Conned into combat

Conned into combat: Mom devastated as son allegedly deceived by ‘Aunt Dudu’ remains missing

Lekgotla Molatlhegi was among those deceptively sent to Russia, allegedly by the daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla. In three weeks, he will turn 20. That is, if he is still alive.

Conned into combat: 4 return home, but SA men still trapped in war zone plead for help

As four of the unwilling soldiers conned into fighting for Russia touched down in South Africa on Wednesday, others from their group remained stuck 20km from the front in the war-torn city of Donetsk, Ukraine.

UPDATE | First group of South Africans lured to Russia lands at OR Tambo

Four South African men who were among the 17 lured to Russia under false pretences and subsequently found themselves on the frontlines of Russia’s war against Ukraine landed back home on Wednesday afternoon.

Conned into combat: Ramaphosa, Putin in talks to return SA men fighting in Ukraine

There is tentative hope for the repatriation of young South African men sold to fight for Russia in the Ukraine war following direct talks between President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Vladimir Putin about extricating them from the conflict.

Conned into combat: Russia promises SA access to men wounded in Ukraine war

After weeks of high-level negotiations, Moscow has given Pretoria a fresh undertaking that it will allow South African diplomats in Russia access to two young nationals severely injured after being sold into combat in the war against Ukraine.

New Year’s in a warzone: Still waiting for help, says SA man trapped in Russia

A group of South Africans stranded on the frontlines of Russia’s war in Ukraine has experienced a harsh festive season, battling freezing temperatures and dire conditions, while holding on to the hope of being reunited with loved ones soon.

‘Sold into combat’: Russian recruiters demand money to free SA youths trapped in Ukraine

The repatriation of the 17 young South Africans lured to Russia to fight in Ukraine is being held up by demands for money from the military contractors involved in their recruitment, well-placed government insiders said on Monday.

Christmas in a war zone: ‘No joy here,’ say South Africans trapped in Russia

“It’s sad that we will spend Christmas in a war zone,” said one of the South African men trapped in Russia, who say they are enduring freezing temperatures, exhaustion and constant fear in harsh conditions close to the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

MKP invoiced R20k for one-way ticket to war for men fighting for Russia

Despite insisting it had nothing to do with sending 17 men to Russia for “bodyguard training”, News24 can reveal that the MK Party was invoiced for at least one of the men’s flights to that country.

EXPLAINER | Men recruited for Russia’s war: Links between Zuma-Sambudla and Mantula?

In the last month, two cases have surfaced of South Africans being recruited into the Russian military. At the centre of both are two high-profile women. The first is the MK Party’s Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who is facing accusations that she conned 18 men into fighting for Russia. The other is SAfm’s Nonkululeko Mantula, who appeared in court with four others on Monday for allegedly recruiting South Africans to join the Russian military. We explain why the two cases are separate, despite sharing similar themes.

Presidency breaks silence on SA men fighting for Russia in Ukraine

The Presidency has broken its silence on efforts to return a group of men stranded on the frontlines in Ukraine after being lured into fighting for Russia under false pretenses.

Families say unwilling soldiers were lured to Russia in MK Party’s name

Family members of the 18 men stuck on the frontlines of Russia’s war on Ukraine say the men were recruited in the MK Party’s name - and they believe Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation as a Member of Parliament is a bid to cover up the party’s involvement. 

MKP says Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation not admission of guilt, denies Ukraine war recruitment

The MK Party mounted a strong defence of former MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who resigned on Friday, categorically denying that she recruited young South Africans to fight in the Ukraine war.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigns as MK Party MP amid Russian war recruitment scandal

The MK Party’s Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has resigned as a Member of Parliament.

Party chairperson Nathi Nhleko announced this at a press briefing on Friday.

He said Zuma-Sambudla would not be involved in any public engagements.

He trusted ‘Auntie Dudu’, but his mom hasn’t heard from him in 3 months

The last time a mother from Botswana heard from her 19-year-old son, who was sent to Russia by former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla under the guise of an “educational opportunity”, was three months ago.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla lays countercharges against fellow recruiter

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, has filed countercharges against a fellow recruiter she accuses of sending a group of 18 South African men to Russia, where they are now stranded and forced to fight against Ukraine.

SA men sent to ‘train’ in Russia recount how Zuma-Sambudla gained trust, abandoned them

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, allegedly promised the South African men now stranded in Ukraine’s war-torn Donbas region that she would join them in Russia for a year, undergo the same military training and experience similar hardships, including sleeping in the mountains armed with guns and grenades.

‘Our lives are at risk’: Zuma sisters clash as SA man trapped in Ukraine war zone pleads for help

The harrowing reality facing 18 South Africans trapped in Ukraine’s war-torn Donbas for the past five months was revealed on Friday when a loud bang interrupted News24’s telephonic interview with one of the men.

Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube accuses sister Duduzile of luring men into Russia-Ukraine conflict

Former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, wants her half-sister, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, to be held criminally liable for allegedly recruiting 18 South African men who are now trapped in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

‘Powerless’: Inside the WhatsApp group chat of SA men trapped in Russia

“We are powerless and these guys can do whatever to us,” a man who is part of a group of stranded South African men in Russia wrote as he begged for help in a WhatsApp group from those who sent them, including MK Party president Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla. 

No child’s play’: South Africans describe life 10km from Ukraine frontline

Two South African men trapped in the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine, about 10km from the frontline, say they have been forced to operate artillery and camp in a forest while following Russian army orders.

SOS! MK Party members stuck in Russia-Ukraine war after bogus ‘bodyguard’ training

Seventeen South African men are fighting for their lives on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine after they were sent to Russia by Jacob Zuma’s MK Party for what they believed was training to become party bodyguards.