South African President **Cyril Ramaphosa** has conveyed his “heartfelt gratitude” to Russian President **Vladimir Putin** for helping secure the return of South African nationals reportedly caught up in the Russia–Ukraine war.
In a statement issued by the presidency, 15 of the 17 South African men believed to have been misled into joining Russian-linked mercenary groups have either returned home or are on their way back. Four arrived in South Africa last week, while 11 others are expected soon. Two individuals remain in Russia.
The government disclosed in November that it had received distress calls from the men, who said they were stranded in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine after being lured with promises that allegedly proved false.
According to the statement, President Ramaphosa thanked President Putin for responding positively to his request to assist in facilitating the men’s safe return.
Authorities have confirmed that investigations are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding their recruitment into what officials described as mercenary activities. Under South African law, citizens are prohibited from serving in foreign armed forces without official authorisation.
The conflict, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has attracted foreign fighters from several countries, including across Africa. Ukrainian officials have previously claimed that more than 1,400 nationals from 36 African states were identified among Russian forces.
Separate media investigations have pointed to alleged deceptive recruitment practices in parts of Africa. In one reported case, Kenyan nationals said they were promised lucrative employment abroad but instead ended up deployed in Russia.
The matter has also generated political debate within South Africa. A daughter of former president **Jacob Zuma** resigned from parliament following allegations linking her to recruitment efforts. Local reports further claimed that some of the men had travelled to Russia for security-related training connected to the MK party led by Zuma.
The South African government has pledged to continue its investigation while working to ensure the safe return of the remaining citizens.
