Four of the South Africans ‘Lured’ to Fight for Russia Have Returned Home: Reports

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.

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. “They will be allowed to return when their contracts are cancelled,” he said, adding that the repatriation will happen in phases.

Lamola said locating the group had been challenging and that conditions for those still on the front line remained dangerous. “The Russian government is assisting with their return, which complicates the situation,” he said. “What is clear is that they were lured under false pretences, and that matter is now the subject of a police investigation in South Africa.”

A family member told AFP that 11 other men — including one who lost a leg — were travelling by bus from Ukraine to Russia and are expected to return to South Africa over the weekend.

Local authorities said in November that they had received distress calls from 17 men trapped in eastern Ukraine after being tricked into joining mercenary groups. South African law prohibits citizens from fighting in foreign conflicts without government authorisation.

The war, sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has drawn mercenaries from several African countries. AFP previously reported that some African recruits, including Kenyans, were misled by recruitment agencies with false promises of high-paying jobs in Russia.

The situation has also drawn local political attention, after reports suggested that some South Africans were recruited through networks connected to the MK Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma. Zuma’s daughter resigned from Parliament after allegations surfaced that she was involved in recruitment efforts — claims she has denied.

Government has urged South Africans to exercise caution when considering overseas security work, warning that many opportunities may carry serious legal and personal risks.

This article originally appeared on IOL.