Zuko Komisa
- President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched an investigation after 17 young South African men were allegedly recruited into mercenary activities in the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine under the pretense of lucrative contracts.
- The men, mostly from KwaZulu-Natal, have sent distress calls home, leading the government to engage diplomatic channels for their safe return.
- The recruitment is a potential violation of the Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, and the Presidency strongly condemned the exploitation of vulnerable youth.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an urgent investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of 17 young South African men into suspected mercenary activities in the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine.
The Presidency confirmed on Thursday that the government had received distress calls from the men, aged between 20 and 39, who are now reportedly trapped in the conflict zone. Sixteen of the individuals are from KwaZulu-Natal, with one from the Eastern Cape.
The government statement detailed that the men were allegedly “lured to join mercenary forces” involved in the Ukraine-Russia war under the pretext of securing highly “lucrative employment contracts.”
This situation potentially violates South Africa’s Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998.
The Act strictly prohibits citizens and entities from offering or providing military assistance to, or participating in the armies of, foreign governments without official authorisation.
President Ramaphosa strongly condemned the “exploitation of young vulnerable people” by individuals working with foreign military entities. The South African government is currently working through diplomatic channels to secure the safe return of the men following their appeals for help to come home.
READ NEXT: MK Party suspends Deputy President John Hlophe
The post Ramaphosa orders probe after 17 SA men found fighting in Ukraine appeal for help appeared first on KAYA 959.
