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In brief
- The men were trapped fighting in Ukraine’s Donbas region after allegedly being tricked into joining mercenary forces.
- South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa thanked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for helping secure their return.
Eleven South African men, who reportedly found themselves ensnared in the conflict in Ukraine while fighting for Russian forces, have finally made their way back to their homeland. This return marks the end of a harrowing journey for these individuals, who were among a group of 17 men ensnared in a dire situation in the Donbas region.
In November, these men reached out to the South African government for assistance after realizing they had been misled into joining mercenary forces in a volatile area. Their plea for help highlighted the dangerous circumstances they faced in a conflict they hadn’t anticipated being part of.
Last week, four of these men touched down in Johannesburg, marking the first wave of their return. Meanwhile, two remained behind in Russia; one of them was receiving medical treatment in a hospital, as confirmed by the South African authorities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed gratitude towards Russian President Vladimir Putin for aiding in the safe return of these men. The cooperation between the two leaders played a crucial role in navigating the complex diplomatic and logistical challenges involved.
The South African government has stated that an investigation is underway to uncover how these young men were recruited into mercenary activities. This inquiry aims to shed light on the circumstances and potentially prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Reporters saw the men — including one in a wheelchair — exiting King Shaka International Airport in the coastal KwaZulu-Natal province, with their luggage and escorted by police to a holding area.
Local television reported that family members waiting at the airport broke down as they saw the men disembark.
The war sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has drawn in mercenaries on both sides, including from several African countries.
Ukraine said on Wednesday that more than 1,780 citizens from 36 African countries had been identified among Russia’s ranks, and that some of them had been captured.
Reports in South African media said the men were allegedly sent to Russia for security guard training by the opposition MK party, which is headed by former president Jacob Zuma — South Africa’s leader between 2009 and 2018.
One of Zuma’s daughters, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, resigned from parliament after claims she was involved in recruiting the men to join Russian forces.
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