Ramaphosa thanks Putin after 17 misled South Africans rescued from Russia-Ukraine war frontlines
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for assisting in the return of 17 South Africans who were allegedly misled into joining the Russia-Ukraine war.
In November, the South African government said it had received distress calls from the group after they became trapped in Ukraine’s Donbas region. The men had believed they were travelling to Russia for bodyguard training, but instead ended up on the front line of the conflict.
The Presidency confirmed that four of the men returned to South Africa on Friday, February 20. Eleven others were expected to return home soon, while two would follow at a later stage.
On Tuesday, February 24, the government said that 11 of the 17 men were set to return after the initial four arrived last week. Two remained in Russia, with one receiving medical treatment in a hospital in Moscow.
“Two remain in Russia with one in a hospital in Moscow, while the other one is being processed before finalising his travel arrangements,” presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
“President Ramaphosa has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Vladimir Putin, who responded positively to his call to support the process of returning the men home,” Magwenya said.
An investigation into their recruitment is ongoing, as under South African law, working as a mercenary or fighting on behalf of another government is illegal unless authorised by the state.
Last Friday, two European researchers linked South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, founded by former president Jacob Zuma, to alleged efforts to recruit Africans to fight for Russia in Ukraine. The researchers claimed that some migrants were lured with job offers and later pushed into military service.
The MK Party was mentioned among South African actors connected to recruitment efforts. The researchers also linked former member of the National Assembly Zuma-Sambudla, who is also the daughter of Jacob Zuma, to the allegations.
In November 2025, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigned from Parliament following allegations that she helped lure 17 men to fight as mercenaries in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Her resignation came after police announced that she was under investigation over claims that she had enticed South Africans to travel to Russia.
The allegations emerged after the group of men, aged between 20 and 39, reportedly ended up on the front lines of the war in Ukraine.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
