Government warns of Russian job scam targeting young South African women: 'We are extremely worried'

702's Bongani Bingwa chats to Clayson Monyela, Head of Public Diplomacy at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.  

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below:

"We are extremely worried. This has been a trend of late."

- Clayson Monyela, Department of International Relations and Cooperation

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has issued a strong warning to the public amid growing concerns about overseas job offers, particularly those targeting young women with promises of hospitality and construction work in Russia. 

These adverts, often pushed via social media and influencers, present glossy opportunities but, in reality, may lead to dangerous and exploitative conditions.

"What particularly worries us with this latest one is that influencers have been mobilised to promote these opportunities that look very good on paper. The reality is, when they get there, the conditions are opposite to what they were promised." 

- Clayson Monyela, Department of International Relations and Cooperation

"The genesis of all of this is that we do have a problem of youth unemployment in this country and, therefore, young people are looking for opportunities overseas."  

- Clayson Monyela, Department of International Relations and Cooperation

Bloomberg reports that one of the main recruiters is Alabuga Special Economic Zone, a facility in Tatarstan linked to the assembly of military drones. 

The article explains that while recruitment efforts are branded as BRICS-related job opportunities, international research groups allege that many women end up working in drone production, often without prior knowledge, unknowingly contributing to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. 
 
Monyela confirms that at least one South African woman had to be repatriated after realising she’d been misled upon arrival in Russia. 

He adds that in some cases, recruits allegedly have their passports confiscated and are placed under constant surveillance, unable to contact their families freely.

"We've had a case of one young South African woman who reached out to our embassy in Moscow, after landing in that particular country, and realising that what they were promised wasn't true. She's back in the country now. We had to work with her family to bring her back."

- Clayson Monyela, Department of International Relations and Cooperation

"One of the stories that we've been told is that when they get to these places, their passports are confiscated, they live under slave-like conditions, they are not allowed to have contact with their families - maybe once a month perhaps just to manage the family and give the impression that everything is okay but even those calls are monitored. They are under constant surveillance." 

- Clayson Monyela, Department of International Relations and Cooperation

Authorities suspect these schemes may amount to human trafficking and have confirmed that schools are being directly targeted by recruiters. 

Monyela says the government has launched an investigation through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster and is urging the public to remain cautious. 

He stresses the importance of verifying job offers through official channels.

"The challenge is when these young people fall for these scams, they don't check with us, they don't inform us. We only collide with the information when they discover they are in trouble. That's why we thought it was important to issue the warning."

- Clayson Monyela, Department of International Relations and Cooperation

"If it looks too good to be true, it probably is... get a second opinion." 

- Clayson Monyela, Department of International Relations and Cooperation

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