At least two South Africans have died while fighting for Russia in the war in Ukraine after being deceived by a recruitment scheme, Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed on Thursday.
It marks the first official confirmation by South African authorities that citizens allegedly lured to Russia under false promises of employment or training have been killed in the conflict.
The Foreign Ministry said the families of the deceased had been informed, although further details regarding the identities, timing or location of the deaths were not disclosed.
Lamola’s remarks followed his visit to Durban on Wednesday to meet the families of 11 South Africans who returned home after being recruited last year in a scheme that purported to offer security training in Russia but resulted in their involvement in the war in Ukraine.
Four other men linked to the same operation had earlier been repatriated, while two remain in Russia with severe injuries.
The minister clarified that the two confirmed deaths were not connected to the group of 17 men allegedly recruited through a network under investigation involving Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma.
Zuma-Sambudla has denied wrongdoing but resigned as a lawmaker in November amid the allegations. She is among at least five individuals being investigated.
Lamola stressed that accountability would follow, stating that all those implicated in the recruitment schemes must face consequences. The 17 men were allowed to leave the front lines after diplomatic engagements between South Africa and Russia.
Ukraine estimates that more than 1,700 Africans have been recruited to fight for Russia, with several African governments reporting that their citizens were misled by offers of lucrative jobs or skills training.
In Kenya, an intelligence report presented to parliament last week indicated that 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited under false pretences and deployed to the front lines. The Kenyan government confirmed that 89 nationals remain engaged in the conflict, 39 are hospitalised, 28 are missing in action, and others have returned home.
One death has been officially confirmed. On Thursday, a Kenyan man was arrested and charged with trafficking 25 Kenyans to Russia in connection with the scheme. Ukraine’s intelligence agency also reported this month that two Nigerians were killed late last year while fighting for Russia.
South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance said it had obtained around 100 WhatsApp messages suggesting that the South African recruits were promised security training and potential Russian or Canadian citizenship.
Upon arrival in Russia, their passports and clothing were allegedly destroyed, their mobile phones confiscated, and they were sent to the Donetsk region of Ukraine to join Russian forces.
Investigations by The Associated Press in January and in 2024 further revealed that migrant workers from Bangladesh and African women were similarly lured with promises of civilian employment or study opportunities, only to be drawn into Russia’s war effort — including factory work assembling attack drones.
The Russia-Ukraine war marked its four-year anniversary this week, with Moscow reportedly seeking to replenish its ranks by recruiting fighters from abroad.