South Africa’s government has warned young women not to fall for social-media recruitment drives advertising job opportunities in Russia, after a series of viral videos by local influencers promoted a two-year “start programme” for women aged 18 to 22.
Officials are reviewing a promotional video by influencer Cyan Boujee (Honour Zuma), since removed from her TikTok account, in which she describes a pathway for young women to gain skills, learn Russian and receive jobs, and shows accommodation in Tatarstan. There is no suggestion she has committed any crime.
Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy, said authorities were “extremely worried” about influencers being used to market unverified overseas jobs. In a post on X, he urged young people—especially girls—“not to fall for unverified foreign job offers,” adding: “If something looks too good to be true, get a 2nd opinion.”
It is unclear what specific roles are on offer under the advertised programme. A report published in May by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said recruits were enticed under false pretences about work and study conditions, and alleged the objective was to support a drone-production programme in Tatarstan. The report said most recruits worked directly in drone manufacturing, while others served as cleaners or catering staff.
There have also been allegations that some South Africans recruited to Tatarstan ended up working in facilities linked to weapons production, including drones used in Russia’s war in Ukraine. One of the main recruiters is a special economic zone in Tatarstan where such production is believed to occur. These claims could not be independently verified.
Boujee, who has 1.7 million TikTok followers, has not directly addressed the criticism. In a recent Instagram post, she appeared to dismiss the backlash with the caption: “Legs stretched, champagne poured, drama ignored.”
South Africa’s foreign ministry did not specify whether it has opened formal investigations into recruiters operating locally, but said it is monitoring the trend and advising prospective job-seekers to verify offers through official channels before committing to travel or employment. Authorities also urged families to be alert to schemes that target young women with promises of easy placement and rapid advancement abroad.