South Africa’s government is investigating how 17 citizens were recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with President Cyril Ramaphosa ordering a probe into the circumstances surrounding their involvement.
The men, aged 20-39, were lured into fighting under false pretenses of lucrative employment contracts and are currently trapped in Ukraine’s war-torn Donbas region.
The government is working to secure their safe return, condemning the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by foreign military entities.
This incident highlights concerns about South Africa’s national security oversight and its neutral stance on the conflict, with experts calling for greater transparency and accountability.
