President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into how 17 South African men were recruited to join armed forces in Ukraine’s war-torn Donbas region under false pretences.
On Thursday, 6 November, the South African government confirmed that it had received distress calls from the men, aged between 20 and 39, who are seeking assistance to return home. According to government officials, the group, 16 from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape, had been lured by promises of lucrative overseas employment, only to find themselves caught in the middle of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, it is illegal for South African citizens or entities to provide military assistance to foreign governments or to serve in foreign armed forces without official authorisation from the South African government.
President Ramaphosa has directed law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the recruitment process and identify those responsible for drawing the men into what appears to be mercenary activity.
“The South African government is working through diplomatic channels to secure the safe return of these young men following their calls for assistance to return home,” said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya. “President Ramaphosa and the South African government strongly condemn the exploitation of young, vulnerable people by individuals working with foreign military entities.”
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said it is in contact with relevant foreign authorities to facilitate the men’s repatriation. Officials have also warned South Africans to be cautious of suspicious overseas job offers, particularly in conflict zones.
