17 SA men trapped in Russia-Ukraine conflict: Families urge Ramaphosa to intervene
The families of the South African men stuck in Europe amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict made an urgent plea for government assistance to repatriate them. The men were allegedly lured by the promise of jobs to Russia but were later enlisted to fight for that country in its conflict with Ukraine.
Image: Thami Magubane
The families of the South African men that are stuck in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have made an impassioned plea to President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in the matter and help to bring them home.
The families held a press briefing in Durban on Tuesday to describe their plight and that of the men who were allegedly lured to Russia with the promise of jobs. However, they were later signed up to fight on behalf of Russia in their conflict with Ukraine. The men have been in Russia for several months.
Speaking on Tuesday, Delani Zuma said they are in pain and the men are also in pain and living in fear.
“We plead with all those that can intervene, to do so; we plead with the government to intervene in any way that it can to help them get back home alive. You cannot imagine the pain that we are feeling; they plead with us to help them get back home, and we are powerless to do so. In December, we had a video call with them, and we could not speak at all; they just cried.
Placards that were brought by the families to the media briefing on Tuesday.
Image: Thami Magubane
Nombuyiselo Mkansi said: “We plead with our father, the president, to intervene in this issue and help our children to come back home.”
Another family member said the South African government should use its BRICS members status to help facilitate the return of the men.
“The president is our last hope; we have no other plans. We heard that other governments like Kenya have been able to have their citizens returned. We hope that this can happen for our children. At the very least, can they move them from the danger zone and then there can be negotiations (on their release)?”
The daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma, has been implicated in the travel arrangements of these men. Some of the men have publicly claimed that they had been duped by her and other parties into believing they were going to Russia for security training, only to find themselves stuck in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The matter is currently being investigated by the Hawks after one of her sisters opened a case claiming that relatives were among those that ended up in Russia.
Zuma resigned as a member of parliament, and in turn, it has been reported that she claims she had been duped by other parties that were part of the recruitment scheme that lured these men to Russia.
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