Anele Mdoda criticizes Russian job initiative
The contentious Russian Alabuga Start Programme continues to ignite anger in South Africa following its promotion by local figures, including Cyan Boujee.
On the morning of Tuesday, 26 August 2025, Anele Mdoda and her crew on Anele and the Club on 947 opted to contact the programme directly for clarification, and their findings were deeply unsettling.
During the live interaction, Anele highlighted various alarming aspects.
She conveyed her concern regarding the campaign’s specific targeting of young women aged 18 to 22, many of whom face challenges due to unemployment and limited opportunities.
“You are targeting the most vulnerable in society. It is really no secret that in South Africa, women and children are the most endangered species on the continent. You know that economically, women are going through a lot. So, you target 18 to 22-year-olds, and some of them have already deemed themselves failures because they did not go to varsity or they barely passed matric. All of a sudden, somebody comes and says, ‘Housing and jobs.’ We have got the highest youth unemployment in the world,” she stated.
Additionally, she voiced criticism regarding the employment of influencers in the campaign, suggesting their extravagant lifestyles may mislead young girls.
“You use influencers who portray a life of success. We do not know how those girls make their money, and I am not here to judge Cyan Boujee and how she makes her money. But all of a sudden, I am involved because you already know your life is being funded dubiously. All of the things you have are not for somebody who works an 8-to-5,” Anele remarked.
The team found it troubling that the promotional materials did not clarify what the job actually involves.
After reaching out to several contact numbers linked to the programme, many calls went unanswered or were terminated upon mention of English.
Eventually, a representative answered, asserting that the programme provides an opportunity for young women to travel to Russia, acquire skills, work in factories, receive education, and enjoy free housing.
He claimed the working conditions were safe and indicated that the programme could last up to two years.
Listeners also shared their thoughts, with one caller named Amanda cautioning against recruiting strategies similar to those used in other cases.
She recounted how her cousin accepted a position in Thailand after being promised R10,000 in advance, only to be abandoned.
“The process was done via WhatsApp,” Amanda described.
“When she got there, they told her that her accommodation ticket was not valid. She was stuck without a place to stay, so they deported her back to South Africa. However, the airline held her passport. This boss got upset with her, asking why she went back.” She added that her cousin was subsequently sent to Myanmar, where the work conditions were reported as perilous and exploitative.
The disclosures have intensified suspicions that the Russian initiative might serve as a cover for trafficking vulnerable young women.
— Thee Zulu Barb.🇿🇦 (@KnockwonderK) August 26, 2025
