The South African government says it has received distress calls from 17 South African men who are trapped in the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine after being lured to join mercenary forces under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts.
The men, aged between 20 and 39, have appealed for assistance to return home. Sixteen of them are from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape.
In a statement on Thursday, the Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said 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 young men, Magwenya said 16 hail from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape.
The Presidency reminded South Africans that under the Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, it is 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.
Ramaphosa and the South African government strongly condemn the exploitation of young vulnerable people by individuals working with foreign military entities.
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