South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the return of 17 out of 20 citizens who were reportedly deceived into joining the Russian military. The fate of the remaining individuals, as well as some citizens from Botswana, remains unclear.
According to Ramaphosa, four South Africans returned home last week, while 11 are expected to arrive soon. One individual is currently receiving medical treatment, and another is preparing for travel.
Families of the affected individuals claim that their relatives were lured into the Russian army under the pretense of receiving training for security roles related to political figures. However, they were allegedly coerced into participating in combat operations in Ukraine.
Legally, involvement in foreign military actions has been considered a crime in South Africa since 1998. The President did not disclose the specific measures that will be taken regarding the returned citizens, stating that only those involved in recruiting for the Russian military are under investigation.
Families have alleged that the recruitment was facilitated by Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of a former South African president and an erstwhile supporter of Russian leadership. She reportedly convinced individuals that their trip to Russia was linked to training programs for security personnel associated with her father’s political party.
On February 10, Cyril Ramaphosa discussed the return of his citizens with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and reports indicate that the Russian side responded positively to the request.
The South African government has successfully repatriated 17 citizens misled into Russian military service, while investigations continue into the recruitment process. The involvement of a former president's daughter in the recruitment raises further questions about the circumstances surrounding their enlistment.