Anguish and anger over men tricked into fighting for Russia

Mary hasn’t heard from her son since 27 August, when he told her he was worried he was being sent to the frontlines of Russia’s war with Ukraine.

- Rachel Savage JOHANNESBURG and Pjotr Sauer

Since then she has been ill with worry.

"I'm honestly really sick," she said, exhaustion in her voice. "I get anxiety attacks, I'm in and out of hospital, palpitations. It's just a whole lot.

Headaches, I'm dizzy all the time. It's not easy for me." Her son was part of a group of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were tricked into fighting for Russia by a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to be aired in the media last month after the South African government said it was trying to help citizens stranded in Ukraine.

Then, in a bombshell intervention on 22 November, another of Zuma's daughters, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, filed a police report alleging that ZumaSambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men.

The accusation sent shock waves through South Africa, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. More than 40% of under-35s are not in work or education.

The men are thought to be trapped in a war they did not sign up for, while their relatives fear for their lives.

Mary, whose name has been changed to protect her and her son's identities, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla through a relative when her son was a child. She said Zuma-Sambudla contacted the family in June with what she presented as an exciting opportunity in Russia.

Some of the men were allegedly told they would be trained as bodyguards for the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, led by Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could enrol on a personal development programme, after which they could attend a Russian university and even get Russian citizenship.