By Thapelo Molefe
Government is investigating allegations that R14 million was paid to facilitate the recruitment of South African men to fight on Russian frontlines, as 15 of the 17 men who sought help to return home have now been repatriated.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed during a post Cabinet media briefing on Thursday that investigations are under way into payments allegedly linked to private military recruitment.
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“What we know for sure is that there were payments that were made,” Ntshavheni said.
“The investigators will have to establish who received the money and for what purpose and what they did with that money.”
The men, aged between 20 and 39, had contacted South African authorities claiming they were lured to Russia under false pretences. According to Ntshavheni, some families alleged that their sons were trafficked and that a R14 million payment had been made by the Wagner Group to a local intermediary.
The Minister of International Relations is meeting affected families in KwaZulu-Natal as part of ongoing consular support.
Ntshavheni said the contracts signed by the men with military contractors complicated efforts to secure their release.
“These young men were made to sign contracts, and that bound them into a time period,” she said.
“The parties that contracted them declined to release them without payment.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa intervened directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin after it became clear that the arrangements were not with the Russian government itself.
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“We accept that it’s not the Russian government that has recruited South Africans, but we need your intervention to get our young people back,” Ntshavheni said, explaining the diplomatic engagement.
Fifteen men have since returned to South Africa, while one remains in hospital in Russia and another is finalising travel arrangements.
When asked whether the men who were duped into going to Russia would face criminal liability under South African law, Minister Ntshavheni said the matter is still under investigation.
She confirmed that the recruitment itself may have violated the Foreign Military Assistance Act, but Cabinet cannot speculate on the men’s criminal liability.
“The investigations are ongoing to establish the facts, including the payments made and who facilitated the recruitment,” she said.
She also confirmed that government is aware of South Africans participating in conflicts elsewhere, including in Israel, but would not disclose numbers.
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“We cannot disclose the numbers,” she said.
Investigations into the recruitment network are continuing, with law enforcement expected to brief the country once evidence has been consolidated.
Cabinet described the safe return of the men as a priority intervention to prevent further harm, amid warnings that participation in foreign conflicts without authorisation is unlawful under South African law.
