DA Demands Answers After South Africans Lured Into Russian War

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has demanded accountability after reports that seventeen South African men, aged between 20 and 39, were tricked into fighting for Russian forces in that country's invasion of Ukraine. They were allegedly promised lucrative jobs overseas and then sent to fight for Russian-aligned forces in Ukraine’s Donbas region.

According to the party, the men believed they were leaving for legitimate security or training work but were forced into combat once they arrived.

DA MP and spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, said the alleged recruitment networks raise serious questions about foreign influence and local political links. He warned that: "The outsourcing of South African citizens to a foreign military power is nothing but a profound breach of sovereignty and a blatant disregard for our national security protocols."

The statement notes that South Africa’s Prohibition of Mercenary Activities Act and Citizenship Act make it illegal for South Africans to take part in a foreign war without permission, and calls on government to enforce these laws and protect citizens from being tricked into illegal combat. Hattingh stressed the broader risk, saying: "Foreign powers must never be allowed to use South Africa’s unemployed youth for their own wars."

Hattingh will write to the Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence, calling for a joint sitting with the Committee on International Relations so that the matter can be interrogated by Parliament. He said the State Security Agency and Defence Intelligence must explain how such recruitment operations were able to happen inside South Africa without detection, adding: "South Africa cannot be turned into a recruitment ground for foreign militaries — our security services must act now to protect our people and our sovereignty."