The brother of one of the 17 South Africans stuck in the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine war says his sibling was lured there with promises to get trained for a job as a bodyguard of top officials in Jacob Zumas uMkhonto weSizwe MK party.
The family member, who has been in contact with his brother via phone since he travelled to Russia with 16 others on 8 July, told the Mail Guardian this week that his sibling had told relatives he expected to get training for a year, building on the experience he had as a bodyguard to several senior politicians and business people.
The men were allegedly told by Zumas daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and her associates Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza that once they returned to South Africa , they would guard some of the senior executives in the MK party.