Two South African nationals have died fighting for Russia in Ukraine, a South African government minister said on Thursday.
The news follows a scandal which saw a serving member of the South African National Assembly resign in November. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla allegedly helped trick 17 South African men into traveling to Russia for “bodyguard training,” where they were coerced into joining Russia’s armed forces.
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11 of the men returned home safely on Wednesday, bringing the total to 15, after their government interceded with Moscow on their behalf. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the matter personally on Feb. 10, according to the BBC.
On Tuesday, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson said the South African president had “expressed his heartfelt gratitude” to Putin for their safe return.
However, two of the group of 17 remain in Russia due to serious injuries sustained as a result of their time on the front line.
According to AP, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola traveled to the coastal city of Durban on Wednesday to meet the men’s families.
At least two South Africans, who had traveled to Russia as part of a different illegal recruitment scheme, have died in Ukraine, Lamola said – confirming for the first time that his countrymen have died while fighting with the Russian army.
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The allegations against Zuma-Sambudla, who is the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, first came to light in early November 2025, when Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa warned South Africans against being tricked into traveling to Russia.
Johannesburg previously disclosed that it had received “distress calls” from some of its nationals, who were trapped on the front line in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
Despite resigning from her public posts over the scandal, Zuma-Sambudla denies the allegations. At least five people are being investigated for their alleged part in the scheme, as per AP.
“The law must take its course,” Lamola said of the case. “Everyone who is involved in this scheme must be held accountable and there must be consequences.”
It is against the law for South Africans to provide military assistance to foreign governments or participate in foreign armies.
In early January, Bloomberg reported that Russia has reportedly targeted South African video gamers via online messaging app Discord as part of its foreign recruitment drive.
Russia and South Africa have membership of BRICS – a loose economic alignment of so-called “rising power” countries which also includes India, China, and Brazil – in common.
However, Moscow has not confined itself to recruiting in South Africa. Ukrainian officials believe that more than 1,400 individuals from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia, often under false pretences.
On Feb. 17, the Nigerian government issued a warning to its citizens against being lured to Russia by “promises of lucrative employment, security jobs, educational opportunities, or migration incentives.”