President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government has received distress calls from 17 South African men who are trapped in the war-torn Donbas region in Ukraine. He says they’ve been contacted for assistance to return home. The men are between the ages of 20 and 39 years, of whom 16 are from KwaZulu-Natal and 1 is from the Eastern Cape.
The government has received distress calls from 17 South African men
The President’s Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the men were apparently lured to join mercenary forces involved in the Ukraine-Russia war under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts. Magwenya added that under the Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, it is illegal for South African citizens and entities to offer or provide military assistance to foreign governments or participate in armies of foreign governments unless authorised by the South African government.
17 South African men who are trapped in the war-torn Donbas region in Ukraine
At the same time, he said that the President has ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into these seemingly mercenary activities. He says the government is working through diplomatic channels to secure the return of these young men following their calls for assistance to return home.
The government strongly condemns the exploitation of young, vulnerable people
Magwenya added that President Ramaphosa and the South African government strongly condemn the exploitation of young, vulnerable people by individuals working with foreign military entities.
