The family of Mvuyisi Mredlana, 36 who passed away in Russia wants his body back in South Africa for burial but the Russian government says he will be buried in Russia as he was a part of their army.
Mvuyisi died in a hospital in Russia after sustaining injuries during war. It is reported Mvuyiseni left South Africa for Russia in November 2025 after he was lued by a friend with the thought that he is going to drive trucks but later joined the war as a soldier.
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November 21, 2025:
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Unemployed father-of-five Mvuyisi Mredlana (36) leaves Gauteng, South Africa for Russia.
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Recruited by a friend in Russia for a supposed truck-driving job, assuring his family it did not involve combat.
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January 2026:
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Direct contact with his family ceases after he informs them he is undergoing two months of training.
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February 2026:
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The family is informed via the recruiter friend that Mvuyisi was critically injured in a drone strike to the head and placed in intensive care.
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Messages go unanswered; the Russian embassy in South Africa claims to have no information.
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March 13, 2026:
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Mredlana dies at D.D. Pletnev City Clinical Hospital in Moscow from his injuries.
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June 11, 2026:
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Official confirmation of his death reaches the family via a letter from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Russia requests consent to bury him locally, citing repatriation as not feasible, and offers financial benefits under Russian law.
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Mid-to-Late June 2026:
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The South African government states it cannot fund individual repatriations of remains; the family must cover costs.
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The family publicly appeals for financial assistance and rejects Russia’s cremation proposal due to cultural beliefs, seeking to return the body to South Africa for traditional burial.
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Financial constraints prevent his mother from traveling to Russia for required DNA testing.
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Late July – Early August 2026:
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The family officially rejects Russia’s offer for local burial/cremation and local compensation payout.
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They demand his body be repatriated to South Africa and seek government intervention, drawing widespread media coverage.
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