South Africa Repatriates Mercenaries from Ukraine

Eleven South African men, part of a group of 17, have been repatriated to South Africa after allegedly being lured into fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine. The men were reportedly trapped in Ukraine's Donbas region and requested assistance from the South African government. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his help in securing their return. Investigations are ongoing into the circumstances of their recruitment, with reports suggesting the opposition South Africa===UMkhonto weSizwe, led by former president Jacob Zuma, may have been involved in sending the men to Russia for security guard training. Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, resigned from parliament amid claims of her involvement in the recruitment.