South African Men Wounded And Missing After Alleged Recruitment To Fight In Russia-Ukraine War

Two of the 17 South African men allegedly tricked into going to Russia under false pretences have been seriously injured in drone attacks on the front line in Ukraine, while another remains missing and is feared dead or captured.

A 39-year-old from KwaZulu-Natal, deployed by Russia to the Donbas region, lost his foot in a drone strike in December. Another man, aged 45 and also from KwaZulu-Natal, now relies on a wheelchair after being wounded in a similar attack. His colleagues say it is unclear whether his condition is permanent.

Thulani Mahlangu, part of a support group working with government officials, said the wife of the amputee had been hospitalised for two weeks after learning of her husband’s injuries.

A parent with four sons serving in Russia — and who is related to the Zuma family — said they sought a meeting with MK Party leader Jacob Zuma during the December holidays but were dissatisfied with his response.

“Perhaps, once all the men have returned, he will go public and explain what really happened. I must admit that we didn’t like [President Cyril] Ramaphosa, but he has turned out to be our saviour on this matter,” the parent said.

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“These boys are still traumatised physically and emotionally — even I myself have not spoken to them to ask exactly what they’ve gone through.”

Family members said the men were promised monthly salaries of R45,000, but received that amount only once, in September. They allege that even then, a portion was deducted and redirected towards Russian military equipment.

On Thursday, four of the 17 men arrived back in South Africa after months in the conflict zone. Before their release, they were required to give statements to police. Their flights home were funded by the South African government through its Moscow embassy.

Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirmed the men were questioned by the Hawks upon landing. “The matter is being handled by the team that deals with cases against the state. Warning statements were taken and their devices seized, as this forms part of an ongoing investigation,” she said.

South African law bars citizens from participating in foreign armed conflicts without official approval.

Police Probe And Allegations Of Recruitment Into Russia-Ukraine War

Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma Mncube recently opened a case against her sister, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, accusing her of luring South Africans to Russia’s war effort. Mathe declined to confirm whether the ongoing investigation is connected to that complaint, citing the sensitivity of active probes.

The four men who returned home have reportedly been advised not to speak publicly, amid efforts to secure the release of those still in the war zone.

Relatives have begun sharing details of what they were told. According to family accounts, the men described racist treatment and harsh conditions under Russian command.

They claim that on arrival, their belongings were destroyed, they were stripped of identification and issued Russian uniforms. Without formal preparation or training, they were deployed directly to the battlefield, where they endured verbal abuse and constant drone threats.

Jabulani Khumalo, founder of the MK Party, was among those who greeted the returnees at OR Tambo International Airport.

“I believe that the former president and his daughter Duduzile should be arrested and prosecuted for their role in luring the men to fight for Russia under false pretext,” he said.

Ramaphosa Raises Case With Putin As African Recruitment Figures Emerge

Research indicates that as many as 35 South Africans may have been recruited. Several of the men reportedly identified Zuma-Sambudla as a key figure in the process, with some said to have close ties to the former president’s family.

A February 2026 report by the All Eyes On Wagner investigative group, working with INPACT, estimated that at least 1,500 Africans have been recruited into Russia’s war in Ukraine since 2023. The study found that hundreds have been killed, many captured and others remain missing.

Governments across the continent have raised concerns. Kenya’s foreign minister, Musalia Mudavadi, announced he would travel to Moscow in March to press for the release of Kenyan nationals.

President Cyril Ramaphosa raised the issue directly with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, during a phone call on 11 February. According to the Presidency, Putin pledged to assist efforts to repatriate South Africans still trapped in the combat zone.

Responding to media queries, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said discussions were continuing.

“The process to secure the return of all the men remains under way, as discussed between President Ramaphosa and President Putin. That’s all I’ll say in this matter. The rest I won’t comment on due to the delicacy of the matter and the process.”