Eleven additional South African men who were allegedly lured into the war between Russia and Ukraine are expected to return home in the coming days, as government efforts to repatriate them continue.
The group, aged between 20 and 39, claims they were promised security training opportunities in Russia but instead found themselves deployed on the front lines of the conflict.
Most of the men are from KwaZulu-Natal, where anxious families have been lobbying authorities for months to secure their safe return.
Four of the men arrived back in South Africa last Friday, marking the first phase of the repatriation process.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed that two men remain in Russia. One is receiving medical treatment in Moscow, while the other is undergoing administrative processing before travel arrangements can be finalised. He said the South African embassy in Moscow will continue monitoring the hospitalised individual until he is cleared to fly.
Magwenya added that the government is working closely with Russian authorities to facilitate the returns. He said President Cyril Ramaphosa had expressed gratitude to President Vladimir Putin for cooperating with the process, following a telephone discussion between the two leaders earlier this month.
Investigations are also under way into how the men were allegedly recruited into mercenary-linked activities.
Authorities are probing claims that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, may have played a role in their recruitment. Zuma-Sambudla stepped down as a Member of Parliament for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party in November.
Officials say further details will be released as the investigation progresses and as more of the men return home ideally swapping battlefield boots for familiar slippers as soon as possible.