1 of 1
Story summary
- South African returnees from the Russia-Ukraine war report severe mistreatment, including luring under false pretenses into dangerous combat roles.
- Families describe racial abuse, inadequate training, and some fighters returning injured or traumatized.
- Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is linked to the recruitment drive and reportedly received significant payments from Russia's Wagner Group.
- South Africa's government says it is investigating the recruitment while the country maintains a controversial neutral stance in the conflict.
