Image: DIRCO
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola met with the families of 15 South African men recently repatriated from the Russia-Ukraine conflict zone.
The men, lured by promises of security jobs in Russia, found themselves entangled in the war, allegedly through predatory recruitment schemes.
Lamola expressed profound relief at their safe return but delivered somber news: two other South Africans, from separate groups, perished while fighting for Russia. Efforts are underway to repatriate their remains for burial. Two more men remain in Russia, one hospitalized with severe injuries and the other awaiting processing.
The minister highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting the families who endured months of distress. President Cyril Ramaphosa personally engaged Russian President Vladimir Putin to facilitate the returns, underscoring South Africa’s neutral stance amid the ongoing conflict.
This incident raises alarms over exploitative recruitment targeting vulnerable citizens, with calls for stricter oversight on international job offers. The families, visibly emotional, welcomed the homecoming as a bittersweet victory.
