'Bring back our boys from war-torn Russia'

AS the families of the young South African men who were lured into  joining mercenary forces in Ukraine are pleading for help in their repatriation, the Hawks yesterday confirmed the arrest of four people  at OR Tambo International Airport on suspicion of contravening the Foreign Military Assistance Act. 

Acting on a tip-off, the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit intercepted the suspects who were leaving the boarding gates at the airport, reportedly en route to Russia via the United Arab Emirates. 

“Four suspects are expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday, following their arrest on Friday, on suspicion of contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, 15 of 1998,” the Hawks said in a statement.

While the Hawks have not revealed the names of those arrested,  sources have indicated that a senior media personality was among the suspects.

The families of the men, who are stuck in  the Ukraine, several of whom are from Nkandla was were coerced into leaving the country for paramilitary training, with the promise of returning as bodyguards for the Umkhonto uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).  

Phumla Zuma, sister-in-law of former South African president Jacob Zuma, said she was heartbroken that her sons and grandson were caught in a conflict they didn't sign up for.

Her children, along with the other young men, were trapped in the Donbas region of Ukraine, after being misled into thinking they were signing up for a year of bodyguard training.

Zuma said she was barely able to eat and sleep at night, praying for the return of the 17 men who were in the "warzone in Russia".

The grim reality, as described by a distraught Zuma, was far from the assurances of lucrative employment and a chance to serve within the MKP.

“They went for a 12-month training course, but ended up on the frontline,” she lamented.

Zuma claimed her two sons, grandson and five extended family members, all aged between 24 and 30, were recruited by her niece, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla.

They flew from King Shaka International Airport in July.

"I have no words to explain how difficult the past few months have been. They were promised that after four weeks of training they could come home for two weeks and go back. They were promised training so that when they return to South Africa they work within the MK Party as bodyguards or security officers.

"They were all unemployed and were happy by the offer of training and a job. After they left we lost a few days of contact and when they finally contacted us they said it was far different to what they went for.

"My son says they thank God for every minute that they are still alive. They are desperate to come home," said Zuma.

She said she was concerned about them going abroad, but had hoped for the best.

"They were told Duduzile is in Russia to receive them on arrival. It appears she saw them when they got there.

"If she (Duduzile) has feelings she would not do something like this to her own family. She knows where I live yet she has never reached out to me. She was supposed to take care of them as they are younger than her," said Zuma.

Earlier this week, Zuma-Sambudla’s sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, submitted an affidavit to police requesting a formal investigation into the alleged recruitment of young men for the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

In her sworn statement, Zuma-Mncube accused her sister, along with collaborators Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, of luring the young men to Russia. She claimed they were subsequently handed over to a Russian mercenary group to participate in the war.

On Friday, the MKP announced Zuma-Sambudla resignation as a member of parliament amid the allegations of her role in recruiting and trafficking the men into the Russian war zone.

Echoing the fears of many families, Thulani Mahlangu, said his unemployed nephew from Nkandla, was recruited to go for training to become a bodyguard for the MKP.

"When they reached Russia they were given contracts written in Russian. They had no interpreter and refused to sign the document but were convinced by Blessing Khoza to sign it.

"They were given uniforms and trained for a month and are now in the frontline of the war zone, loading missiles and picking up bodies and burying in mass graves. They are traumatised seeing people dying daily. They have been split into groups of four or five. They all want to come home," said Mahlangu.

He said if any of them was to die there, their families would not get their remains as it would go into a mass grave.

Mahlangu alleged that Zuma-Sambudla was paid millions to recruit mercenaries - a claim that could not be verified at the time of publishing.

A KwaZulu-Natal south coast woman, who did not want to be named said her brother cried daily on the phone, saying he wanted to come home.

"He asks when they are bringing them back. And I have no answers for him. He says people are dying in front of him, they don't sleep and have no water to drink or bath. He can't take it anymore. His body is shutting down.

"When he was recruited he was told he was going for VIP bodyguard training and would get paid R45 000 a month while there. Within two days he got a passport. I still said to him that it was shocking how fast it took. Then he got a call to say "we are leaving tomorrow, 9 July, to be at the airport at 11am," she said.

She said when her brother left he was excited, but when he called from Russia that changed.

"He would whisper into the phone and I knew he was hiding the truth. When he left he had no money and then after three to four weeks he sent R5 000 home. He said they were carrying big guns and eating the same food every day.

"He asked us to research about the training saying he wants to come home. He cries whenever we speak and I don't know what answers to give him," she said.

She said they follow the news every day hoping to hear of the government's intervention and the repatriation of all the men.

A mother from Botswana, also not wanting to be named shared her anguish, saying her son and nephew were recruited under the pretext that they were going to Russia for a personal development program which would earn them a scholarship to study in Russia and be given citizenship.

"My son’s only dream was to do well and make me proud which he has been doing all along. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla called my child’s father about this opportunity who later told me about it. My son later spoke to Dudu to try and understand what this was about and I also engaged her. Upon arrival in Russia, things changed and didn’t seem like what he was promised.

"I personally asked Dudu to return my child to Botswana. I last spoke with him on August 27 and since then I am not getting any clear answers on the whereabouts of my child. He is 19 years old and he was in university in Botswana. I have reached out to the government of Botswana to assist and through diplomatic relations and channels, they have engaged the Government of South Africa," said the mother.

Criminal Investigation

A preliminary investigation by the Hawks has revealed that a South African woman had allegedly been facilitating the travel and recruitment of individuals into the Russian Federation military.

The Hawks also confirmed that search-and-seizure operations were carried out in connection with additional suspects believed to be part of the facilitation network.

“A search and seizure warrant was executed for an additional suspect believed to be involved in the facilitation of the four men, as well as a fifth individual who had already departed South Africa for Russia.

“Upon the suspect’s arrival at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) on 27 November, the individual was interviewed, during which further evidence was uncovered.

“This resulted in the arrest of three additional suspects on November 28. Electronic gadgets and two backpacks were seized for further investigation,” according to a statement by the Hawks.

They said they were working with local and international intelligence agencies to determine the full extent of the network and assess any potential security threats.

“Coordination with intelligence structures and international counterparts is ongoing to determine the full extent of the network and any further potential security threats,” read the statement.

On Friday, the MKP announced Zuma-Sambudla's resignation as a member of parliament amid the allegations of her role in recruiting and trafficking the men into the Russian war zone.

Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance (DA) opened criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla based on the allegations.

The charges include human trafficking and contraventions of South Africa’s anti-mercenary legislation.

Chris Hattingh, DA spokesperson on Defence & Military Veterans, said they received new evidence, including around 100 WhatsApp messages from a group allegedly administered by Zuma-Sambudla.

"These messages show clear coordination in luring at least 22 men to Russia under the guise of “personal development”, “security training”, and even promises of Russian or Canadian citizenship.

"Of the 22 men who initially travelled,19 remain in Russia, including 17 South Africans. Three returned early due to family connections to “Madiba”," said Hattingh.

According to the families when the men arrived in Russia their clothing and personal items, including their passport, were burnt.

He said the DA will intensify its efforts in Parliament to force full transparency from the state and escalate pressure on the government to immediately begin the process of repatriating the 17 South Africans.

Mercenary activities

Presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, in a statement said that the men were drawn into the Russia-Ukraine conflict after being misled by promises of well-paying jobs.

"The government of South Africa has received distress calls for assistance to return home from 17 South African men, between the ages of 20 and 39 years, who are trapped in the war-torn Donbas Ukraine.

Of the 17 men, Magwenya said 16 were from KwaZulu-Natal and the other from the Eastern Cape.

The Presidency reminded South Africans that under the Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, it was illegal for citizens or entities to offer or provide military assistance to foreign governments or to participate in the armies of foreign governments unless authorised by the South African government.

"President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into these seemingly mercenary activities. The South African government is working through diplomatic channels to secure the return of these young men following their calls for assistance to return home," said Magwenya.

Additional reporting by Ntombizodwa Dlamini.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE