South Africa has begun negotiations with Russia to secure the return of 17 South African nationals who became involved in the war in Ukraine, as controversy grows around allegations of mercenary recruitment linked to politically connected figures.
According to South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the men are currently in Russia after having crossed into Ukraine, where they are believed to have been involved in fighting. Authorities say efforts are under way to clarify their legal status and facilitate their safe return home through diplomatic channels.
The issue has drawn heightened attention after reports linked the men’s recruitment to individuals connected to the family of former president Jacob Zuma, sparking public debate and political fallout in South Africa. While no formal charges have been laid against members of the Zuma family, the allegations have intensified scrutiny over the role of private actors and foreign military networks in drawing South Africans into overseas conflicts.
DIRCO has stressed that South Africa does not permit its citizens to participate as mercenaries in foreign wars, noting that such actions may violate domestic legislation, including the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act. Officials say the priority, however, remains the safe repatriation of the affected individuals, while investigations into how they were recruited continue.
The department confirmed that talks are ongoing with Russian authorities to determine the conditions under which the men entered the conflict zone and whether any legal proceedings are pending against them. It added that consular assistance is being provided, even as the government distances itself from any form of private military involvement abroad.
The situation has reignited concerns about the vulnerability of unemployed or economically marginalised South Africans to recruitment by foreign military groups, often lured by promises of high pay or support roles that later turn into combat duties.
South Africa has repeatedly called for a negotiated settlement to the Ukraine conflict and maintains a non-aligned stance on the war. Officials say the latest developments underline the human cost of the conflict beyond Europe’s borders and the complex challenges facing governments as their citizens become entangled in distant wars.
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