Parties that contracted SA men to fight for Russia declined to release them without payment – Ntshavheni

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni briefs members of the media on key outcomes from the Cabinet Meeting held on 25 February 2026. Picture: PresidencyZA Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said investigations are ongoing into allegations that R14 million was paid for the 17 South African men to fight for Russia without their knowledge. On Thursday, Ntshavheni briefed the media on the outcomes from the Cabinet meeting held on 25 February 2026.

In November last year, the South African government received distress calls from 17 South African men who were trapped in the war-torn Donbas, Ukraine. They wanted assistance to return home. The men, aged 20 to 39, who come from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape, were lured to join mercenary forces involved in the Ukraine-Russia war under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts.

Under the Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, it is illegal for South African citizens or entities to offer or provide military assistance to foreign governments, or to participate in the armies of foreign governments, unless authorised by the South African government. Ntshavheni said Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, went to KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday to meet with the families of the returnees. “As part of our responsibility and consular service, we need to engage with the families.

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They are the ones who reached out to us to ask for support, to ask for assistance, to return their young men, who they alleged were trafficked to Russia without any money,” said Ntshavheni. “So, as part of that engagement, as part of that feedback, it’s important that you look back to those who requested your assistance to say, here we are, but there are the following things that have to happen.

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