Sold for R14 million? The shocking claims behind SA’s Russia–Ukraine recruit scandal
Nonkululeko Mantula, Xolani Ntuli, Thulani Mazibuko, Siphamandla Tshabalala and Sifiso Mabena are due to appear at the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court this week on Monday.
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
Five South African nationals accused of recruiting local men to fight in the Russia–Ukraine war are expected to appear in court this week, marking a significant step in a case that has drawn national and international attention.
The suspects, Nonkululeko Mantula, Xolani Ntuli, Thulani Mazibuko, Siphamandla Tshabalala and Sifiso Mabena are due to appear at the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court this week on Monday.
Authorities say 17 South African men were ultimately sent to Russia in July 2025 after being lured with promises of legitimate security work. The group, mostly aged between 20 and 39, included 16 recruits from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape.
The spokesperson for those affected, Thulani Mahlangu, said the men were sold for R14 million and that the incident has affected the families dearly.
"When they got to Russia, they found themselves being contracts written in Russian," Mahlangu told the SABC. "They couldn't understand what the contracts entailed until some South Africans, including Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and others convinced them to sign."
In November, the Democratic Alliance (DA) laid criminal charges of human trafficking against Zuma-Sambudla. "This follows new evidence received by the DA, which includes approximately 100 WhatsApp messages from a group allegedly administered by Zuma-Sambudla.
"These messages show clear coordination in luring at least 22 men to Russia under the guise of 'personal development', 'security training', and even promises of Russian or Canadian citizenship," said DA's spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh.
Mahlangu went on to say that the men were taken for training which lasted a month in which they were told that it was military training and that they were preparing for war.
"In September, former President Zuma was informed about that training and wrote a letter to the commanders of the groups, and they were prepared to release the boys...When they got there, they had a video call with Zuma-Sambudla and everything changed," he claimed.
Zuma-Sambudla has claimed she had been misled and was a victim in her own right in the matter.
Mahlangu added that another letter was found, allegedly from Zuma which supposedly said the men should remain in the foreign country for 12 months.
"We have been calling the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), I have even gone to the Russian embassy. But we found that at the Ukraine embassy they were not aware that there are South Africans on the side of Russia," he told the broadcaster.
According to Mahlangu, the Ukraine embassy urged the men to surrender. "We called them and said it will be difficult for them to do so because they might be shot dead by Russia...The difficulty is that the army in which they are participating in is not in the state army but a private company."
He claimed that the commanders of this army have the authority to release them. "There is a certain amount of money that they paid, actually they bought them from these South Africans who sent them abroad for around R14 million," Mahlangu said. "The commanders said if we can get R14 million, they can release them,"
The spokesperson added that the families are not in a position to raise that amount of money. He added that some parents approached Zuma to assist with the money but that the former president was not aware of the mercenaries' actions and was told that the men had gone for VIP training.
Mahlangu added that one of his family members is suffering in Russia as it is very cold and he was sent to the frontlines along with the others. He claimed that two men from Botswana had been killed in a drone strike.
One of the men, said Mahlangu, suffered from a heart attack and is recovering in hospital.
Mahlangu said the men were earnest in leaving the country to get VIP protection and were simply duped. "What they are saying is the truth, there is an element of fraud and forgery because in September the president (Zuma) wrote a letter but later his signature was forged in another letter in which he stated they could continue with their training. "
He claimed that one of the commanders told him that when one signs the contracts they are unlikely to come back because it consists of 12 months.
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