Four South Africans 'lured' to fight for Russia have returned home

FOUR South African men who were recruited into Russian-linked security operations amid the war in Ukraine returned to the country on Wednesday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) confirmed.

- STAFF REPORTER

AFP reported that their arrival comes days after Cyril Ramaphosa held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the safe return of South Africans caught up in the conflict.

It is not clear whether the four men are part of a wider group of 17 South Africans that the Presidency has said it is working to bring home. AFP spoke to the Presidency, which said the “process to secure the release of the men” is ongoing.

Video footage from the SABC showed the men arriving at OR Tambo International Airport before being escorted to a police holding area for processing.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told AFP that the men were contracted by private security companies in Russia, rather than being enlisted directly into the Russian military.