SA men plead for rescue from Russia-Ukraine frontline

The South African government has confirmed that seventeen South African men are stranded in the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine after being lured to join foreign military forces under the promise of well-paying jobs. The men, aged between 20 and 39, include sixteen from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape.

According to the Presidency, the men were recruited under false pretences and are now appealing for help to return home. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into how the men were recruited and sent to a conflict zone. “The South African government is working through diplomatic channels to secure the return of these young men following their calls for assistance to return home,” Magwenya said.
The war between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022 when Russian forces invaded Ukrainian territory. The conflict has since escalated into one of the most violent wars in Europe since World War II, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions. The Donbas region, where the South Africans are reportedly trapped, has been at the centre of intense fighting and continues to be one of the most dangerous areas in the conflict.

Under the Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, it is illegal for South African citizens to participate in foreign military operations or provide assistance to foreign governments without approval from the South African government. Those who violate the Act could face prosecution upon their return to South Africa.
This is not the first time South Africans have been found training or fighting as soldiers in other countries. In recent years, several South Africans have been reported to have joined private military groups and foreign armies, including conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. Some have served as security contractors or bodyguards, while others were recruited by private companies promising high salaries.
Authorities have warned that many of these so-called employment offers are in fact recruitment schemes for mercenary work in conflict zones. In previous cases, South Africans caught fighting abroad faced difficulties returning home or were arrested upon arrival.

President Ramaphosa has condemned the exploitation of vulnerable people by those involved in these schemes. The government has called on citizens to remain alert to false job offers and to report any recruitment attempts that could violate the country’s laws.