The men, aged between 20 and 39, say they were lured abroad by false promises of well-paid security jobs but found themselves caught in active combat linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has since ordered an investigation into how the men were recruited, how they left the country, and who may have facilitated their entry into a foreign war. Mashilompane, however, insists that immediate steps must be taken to bring them home.

“The state needs to go and fetch them,” he said. “They can use military aircraft and follow diplomatic channels to make the necessary arrangements. That would be the quickest and most appropriate way to bring them back safely.”

Mashilompane attributed the situation to high unemployment and the desperation of South Africans seeking opportunities abroad.

“People are vulnerable. They see adverts online promising jobs in other countries and believe they are genuine. These men were not looking to fight in a war; they were simply looking for work,” he explained.

He also criticised the country’s intelligence agencies, saying they failed to detect the recruitment activities. “This shows the weakness of our intelligence. Citizens cannot leave the country for such purposes without the state knowing. We need a stronger system to track and prevent such scams,” he added.

The Ukrainian embassy has denied any connection to the stranded South Africans, suggesting they may have been recruited by Russian-linked operatives. Russia has yet to comment on the matter.

Mashilompane said FOSA was attempting to contact the families of the men to gather more details and urged the Department of International Relations and Co-operation to act decisively. “Government must issue a statement, engage with both sides, and ensure these men are brought home safely,” he said, warning that similar scams could be targeting South Africans in other regions, including Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

–ChannelAfrica–