Russian President Vladimir Putin has committed to assisting in the repatriation of 17 South African men currently embroiled in the conflict in Ukraine.
The pledge follows a high-level telephone discussion on Tuesday between Mr Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In a statement issued by the South African presidency, Ramaphosa reaffirmed his nation’s commitment to diplomatic and peaceful resolutions to the ongoing hostilities.
The leaders also discussed bilateral relations within international frameworks, including the BRICS bloc and the G20.
Crucially, both heads of state agreed to support the process of bringing home the South Africans who had been fighting alongside Russian forces. Engagement between technical teams from both nations is expected to continue until the process is finalised.
The plight of the 17 men has sparked significant controversy in South Africa. It is alleged that the group was lured to the war-torn Donbas region under false pretences.
Reports suggest that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of the uMkhonto weSizwe leader and former president Jacob Zuma, played a role in facilitating their recruitment and travel. Ms Zuma-Sambudla has strenuously denied these allegations.
According to accounts from families and government officials, the men were promised legitimate employment, such as security training or civilian roles. Instead, they were reportedly signed up to Russian military units and deployed into active combat zones.
The crisis first came to light in November when the South African government received distress calls from the men pleading for assistance. Relatives, primarily based in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, have described an “agonising” situation.
During a media briefing in Durban, families revealed that communication has been reduced to infrequent WhatsApp messages. They reported that several men have sustained serious injuries, with one individual said to be paralysed.
The incident has prompted a formal investigation by the Hawks, South Africa’s elite police unit. Authorities are scrutinising the recruitment network to determine if the men were exploited in violation of the Foreign Military Assistance Act.
Under South African law, citizens are strictly prohibited from joining foreign military forces without explicit state authorisation.
