EMPANGENI - The Majola family in Empangeni has made an emotional appeal to government to intervene and bring their missing son back home.
It has been 13 weeks since Maqhinga Majola last made contact with his family.
He was one of a group of South Africans who boarded a flight to Dubai thinking he was going to train as a security guard only to land up as a contract soldier in the Russian military.
Majola’s mother, Themebile Majola recalled the last conversation she had with her son after repeatedly warning him not to go abroad.
“I remember him telling me he is going abroad and I asked him why abroad and who he is leaving his wife with behind and he jokingly said she will find someone who will be the man of the house.
"I took it lightly, not knowing that was the day he was actually leaving. What breaks my heart is the fact that he never told his wife the truth about where he was going, but he never confided in her," she said.
For Majola’s wife, Thembi Majola the uncertainty has brought both emotional and financial strain.
“This whole situation really makes me unhappy because when he left, our children had stopped getting their Sassa money, and when I went to their offices, I couldn’t get assistance because I don’t have his contacts.
"Right now our children aren’t being paid their grant money. He had promised to send money but in December he said there is no reception. Till now there is no money coming from him." she said.
Majola's father says while he understands his son’s desire to look for job opportunities, it breaks his heart not knowing whether he's dead or alive.
The recent return of scores of South Africans from the Ukraine warzone has given the family hope, but they are still desperate for answers about Majola’s whereabouts.
They have reached out to Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) officials for assistance in locating him.
- eNCA's Nokwazi Qumbisa filed this report.