The South African government has urged young women not to fall for social media ads advertising jobs abroad, especially in Russia, the BBC reports.
The warning follows a series of social media videos in which South African influencers are promoting job opportunities in Russia for young women. Authorities are investigating one such video, which was posted on her account by influencer Cyan Boujee. It has now been deleted. Her video described a two-year “start program” for young women who are just starting their careers and want to learn professional skills.
A large number of young South Africans are unemployed, and many are desperate to find work.
In the video, filmed in Tatarstan, Russia, Boujee shows viewers the rooms where the workers will live. The influencer describes the program as a chance to start over, and adds that girls from Africa, Asia and Latin America are treated well. Boujee, who has 1.7 million followers on TikTok, explains that the hired girls will be given work and taught Russian.
It is not known what professions are being offered,
but the ads are aimed at women aged 18 to 22.
There are no reports that the influencer has broken any laws, and she herself has not responded to criticism received over the weekend. One of the latest posts on the social network “Instagram” shows the young woman on a plane drinking champagne, which she described as “legs stretched, champagne poured, drama ignored.”
The South African government is concerned about the recent trend of influencers advertising jobs abroad. Clayson Monyela, head of the State Center for Public Diplomacy, has warned young people, especially young women, not to fall for unverified job offers abroad, some of which are also advertised on social media. He wrote on X that if something looks too good to be true, it is necessary to get another opinion on the advertised.
There are assumptions that some of the women in Tatarstan work in weapons factories, producing flying robots that are used in attacks on Ukraine. One of the main employers of South African women in Russia is the Tatarstan special economic zone, where weapons are produced.
A report published in May by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime states that potential workers are lured using false promises about the type of work, working conditions and training opportunities. The aim is to attract a workforce to produce flying robots. The report states that most of those who have left for Tatarstan work in drone factories, while others are service personnel – cleaners and caterers.
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