Young South Africans Stranded in Donbas After Joining Foreign Fighters — Ramaphosa Orders Investigation

Seventeen South African men who travelled to Ukraine to join foreign fighting groups have called for help after becoming trapped in the increasingly dangerous Donbas region, the government said on Thursday. The men are between 20 and 39 years old.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed an urgent probe into how the group was recruited and transported into the conflict zone, amid concerns that citizens may have been misled or coerced into mercenary activity.

An official statement said authorities are working to establish the circumstances that led the men to take up arms abroad and to assess legal and diplomatic options for their safe return. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is coordinating with foreign partners and missions to gather details and explore repatriation possibilities.

The development raises fresh questions about the channels that funnel volunteers and paid fighters into the Russia–Ukraine war, and the risks young recruits face when operating outside legal and state protections. South African officials reiterated that participation in mercenary activity can breach domestic law and international norms, while stressing the government’s priority is the safety and welfare of its nationals.

Analysts say the incident could complicate Pretoria’s diplomacy, particularly given the sensitive balance South Africa has sought to maintain between Moscow and Kyiv. For now, investigators are focused on uncovering recruitment methods, whether the men travelled voluntarily, and the best, lawful way to bring them home.