Staff Reporter
The remains of 44-year-old KwaZulu-Natal man Sihle Makhaye, who died in Russia after being recruited under false pretences, have been returned to South Africa ahead of his funeral in Kranskop this weekend, KwaZulu-Natal MEC Siboniso Duma said on Monday.
Duma, the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements and leader of government business in the province, said Makhaye died in Russia on 28 March. His wife, Sibonile Ndwandwe, contacted the provincial government in April seeking help to repatriate his body.
“She indicated that Makhaye, who was 44 at the time of his death, was recruited under false pretences to work in Russia. Upon his arrival in that country, he was asked to sign a one-year contract as a condition to fight in a war between Russia and Ukraine. He refused to do both,” Duma told a media briefing at the Royal Hotel in Durban.
Duma said the provincial government could not provide further details on the recruitment.
“Unfortunately, as the department, we are unable to provide further details, as this matter is managed at the national level by relevant authorities, including the Hawks—the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation,” he said.
Last year, 17 South African men, 16 from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape, made distress calls from the Donbas region after allegedly being lured under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts.
President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered an investigation into the recruitment, while the government said South African law bars citizens and entities from providing military assistance to foreign governments or participating in foreign armies without authorisation.
In February, the Presidency said the men had been “lured into the battle lines between Russia and Ukraine by South African elements that remain under investigation”.
It said 17 men aged between 20 and 39 had sought help to return home, and that the investigation into their recruitment into alleged mercenary activity was continuing.
Ndwandwe said her husband had been promised employment as a security guard in Russia after leaving a job in Gauteng in search of better pay.
Duma said his department assigned a team led by head of department Max Mbili to work with the family and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on the repatriation.
“We pause to salute the DIRCO team that worked with our team on this difficult assignment. The sanctions against Russia and the language barrier made the work even harder. However, the team worked efficiently for 69 days in service of the Makhaye Family,” he said.
He said the provincial team received confirmation on Friday night that Makhaye’s remains were on their way to South Africa. The body was transported from Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines before arriving at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday.
“Importantly Ladies and Gentlemen, yesterday the family received the mortal remains around 1pm at the Dube Trade Port Cargo Terminal. It was indeed an emotional moment. This has been a long agonising wait,” Duma said.
Makhaye’s funeral will be held on Saturday in Vukaphansi, Ward 6, in Kranskop. His remains are expected to leave Durban on Friday and arrive in Vukaphansi at 4pm for a night vigil.
Duma said the Combined Nations Funeral Parlours Association had assigned Ndaleka Funeral Services to assist with collection, death certificate registration, storage and preparation of the remains, grave preparation and burial. He said Makhaye only had a death certificate from Russia.
“The family will receive all the necessary logistics support in order to bury their loved one with respect,” Duma said.
Makhaye is survived by his wife and five children: Thalente, 23; Samkelo, 9; Mqoqi, 10; Naledi, 26; and Lesedi, 19.
“In conclusion, once again, as the people of KwaZulu-Natal we are called upon to dig deep from the soul of our very being to provide support to the children, the wife and the whole family,” Duma said.
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