'Co-operation between President Ramaphosa and President Putin' - Lamola as South Africa thanks Russia for helping with return of 11 mercenary fighters
"South Africa thanked Russia for assisting with the return of 11 of its citizens who had been fighting with mercenary forces in the Donbass. "We engaged with the Russian embassy in Pretoria, with my counterpart also in Russia, Mr Lavrov," explained Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa. "The president made a call on this very distressful situation affecting the young people who were in the forefront or in the front lines of the of the war between Russia and and Ukraine." "There was a resolution of cooperation between President Ramaphosa and President Putin to return them back to South Africa," he added. 17 men were believed to be affected, aged 20 to 39. Four arrived back last week, with two remaining in Russia; one in hospital. Cyril Ramaphosa gave Vladimir Putin his 'heartfelt gratitude' for assisting in the repatriation. Fighting as a mercenary is illegal in South Africa without prior government authorisation."