Media Statements

The African National Congress (ANC) notes with deep concern the distress calls from South African citizens currently trapped in the conflict zone in the Donbas region of Ukraine. According to government reports, seventeen South African men, sixteen from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape, were lured into joining armed formations in the Russia–Ukraine conflict under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities.

The ANC welcomes the swift intervention by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African government to investigate the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men, and to work through diplomatic channels to ensure their safe return home. We commend government’s proactive stance in safeguarding the lives and rights of South Africans abroad, particularly those who may have been vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.

South Africa’s laws are clear, in terms of the Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, it is illegal for South African citizens to participate in foreign armed forces or render military assistance to foreign governments without authorisation. Such actions not only place individuals at grave personal risk, but also undermine the sovereignty of our nation and South Africa’s principled stance of non-alignment in global conflicts.

The ANC strongly cautions all South Africans against falling prey to fraudulent recruitment schemes that promise lucrative work opportunities abroad. We further warn that those who willingly and knowingly enlist in foreign military activities, including those who have joined or are assisting the Israeli Defence Force in its ongoing assault on the Palestinian people, are in direct violation of South African law and must face the full might of the law. These reckless acts endanger lives, compromise South Africa’s diplomatic posture, and risk undoing the important work our government continues to undertake in promoting global peace, dialogue, and stability.

The ANC reiterates its confidence in government efforts to secure the safe return of these citizens, and calls for a robust, urgent investigation into the networks responsible for their recruitment. We also urge communities, families, and leaders at all levels to remain vigilant and ensure that our young people arenot targeted by international mercenary-linked recruiters who prey on economic vulnerability and desperation. South Africa remains committed to peace, multilateralism, and constructive global engagement, a position that must never be compromised by illegal mercenary activities.

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