JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), a branch of the South African Police Service, confirmed on Wednesday that it has launched an investigation into how 17 South African citizens became embroiled in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In a statement, DPCI spokesperson Thandi Mbambo said the unit is working closely with several government departments and relevant foreign authorities "to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach."
"This multi-departmental cooperation ensures that the investigation proceeds within the legal mandates of all structures involved, particularly on matters relating to international relations, identity verification, and foreign law-enforcement engagement," she said.
Mbambo said the DPCI had also contacted the families of the men and that the case was receiving priority attention. She later confirmed the investigation in a phone interview with Xinhua.
On Nov. 6, the Presidency announced that it had been alerted about the 17 men who were "trapped" in the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine. The men reportedly claimed they were lured with promises of lucrative employment, only to find themselves caught in a conflict zone.
Late last week, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, a daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, opened a case at the Sandton police station against her half-sister, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who is now a member of the National Assembly, alleging that she was among three individuals in South Africa who facilitated the men's travel abroad. Zuma-Mncube said eight of the 17 are her family members.
Zuma-Sambudla, in turn, opened a case on Sunday, accusing another individual of recruiting the men and sending them to Russia.
The DPCI acknowledged both complaints, saying they were being investigated. "Both matters are being investigated to determine whether any criminality, including possible human trafficking, illegal recruitment, exploitation, or fraud, may have contributed to the movement of these individuals to the conflict zone," Mbambo said. ■
