JOHANNESBURG (FN) — Seventeen South African nationals who joined foreign combat forces in Ukraine have issued urgent appeals to their government for assistance, according to the South African Presidency.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed that the men, aged 20 to 39, are stranded in the war-torn Donbas region and have requested evacuation. “They were misled by recruiters and now find themselves in a hostile environment with no clear way out,” Magwenya said.
The individuals reportedly joined mercenary units under false promises of high-paying security jobs. Most hail from KwaZulu-Natal, with one from the Eastern Cape. Their exact affiliations in the conflict remain undisclosed.
One of the trapped men, speaking anonymously through a recorded message shared with officials, said: “We were told we’d be guarding facilities, not fighting in a war. Now we’re stuck, out of supplies, and scared for our lives.”
Another individual, identified only as Sipho, described the conditions as dire. “We sleep in bombed-out buildings, we haven’t eaten properly in days. We just want to come home,” he said in a voice note sent to family members.
Under South Africa’s Foreign Military Assistance Act, citizens are prohibited from participating in foreign armed conflicts without government approval. Legal experts say the men could face prosecution upon return, though humanitarian considerations may influence the outcome.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into the recruitment networks involved. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is working with foreign missions to verify the men’s locations and facilitate their safe return.
“We are deeply concerned about the exploitation of vulnerable youth,” said DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor. “Our priority is to ensure their safety while upholding the law.”
Human rights advocates have urged the government to act swiftly. “Regardless of how they got there, these men are now in danger. South Africa must respond with urgency,” said Sipho Dlamini, director of Africa Watch.
Efforts to repatriate the group are ongoing, though officials warned that access to the Donbas region remains limited due to active hostilities and restricted humanitarian corridors.
