South Africans Were Promised Job, but Ended Up ‘Going to War’ for Russia

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Zimasa MatiwaneNovember 29, 2025 at 06:03 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

The South African government is investigating how at least seventeen of its citizens were allegedly tricked into fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine. Lured by promises of bodyguard training and security jobs, the men were instead deployed to the front lines in the Donbas region. One man reported being promised a job with the political party of former president Jacob Zuma after training. President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched an investigation, and an elite police unit is looking into potential criminal charges against Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who is accused of deceiving the men and handing them over to a Russian mercenary group. Another of Zuma's daughters has filed a criminal complaint against Zuma-Sambudla, highlighting a family rift.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Donetsk region 80% Rostov 80% Cyril Ramaphosa ×2100% Jacob Zuma ×2100% Russia ×4100% Ukraine ×3100%

Keywords

recruitment scam 90% war in ukraine 80% south africans 70% mercenary 70% russia 70% false pretenses 60% political scandal 60% job opportunity 50% human trafficking 50%