South Africans conned into fighting in Ukraine ‘were sold for R14m’

FIVE South African nationals accused of recruiting local men to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war have been granted bail, unopposed by the State, marking a significant step in a case that has drawn national and international attention.

- XOLILE MTEMBU

The suspects, Nonkululeko Mantula, Xolani Ntuli, Thulani Mazibuko, Siphamandla Tshabalala and Sifiso Mabena appeared at the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Authorities say 17 South African men were ultimately sent to Russia in July 2025 after being lured with promises of legitimate security work. The group, mostly aged between 20 and 39, included 16 recruits from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape.

The spokesperson for those affected, Thulani Mahlangu, said the men were sold for R14 million and that the incident had greatly impacted their families.

"When they got to Russia, they found themselves receiving contracts written in Russian," Mahlangu told the SABC.

"They couldn't understand what the contracts entailed until some South Africans, including Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and others convinced them to sign."

In November, the DA laid criminal charges of human trafficking against Zuma-Sambudla.

"This follows new evidence received by the DA, which included approximately 100 WhatsApp messages from a group allegedly administered by Zuma-Sambudla," Mahlangu said.