JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — A South African influencer has issued an apology for her role in promoting a controversial job scheme in Russia, a country where many young people are desperate to find employment.
Cyan Boujee, whose real name is Honour Zuma, came under public scrutiny after a video she posted online advertising jobs for women between the ages of 18 and 22 went viral.
The video prompted the government to issue a warning about the scheme and alert citizens to the dangers of human trafficking and “unverified job opportunities overseas.”
“Immediately when I saw the comments on my stories and on my videos… I knew that this is not something I stand with,” the 24-year-old told her 902,000 followers on Instagram.
The influencer, popularly known as Cyan, has since removed the promotional videos from her social media pages. The videos had described the opportunity as a “fresh new start” for young women at the beginning of their careers.
In a now-deleted video posted on TikTok, where she has 1.7 million followers, Cyan had filmed in Tatarstan, Russia, and described the opportunity as a two-year “start programme” for those wanting to acquire professional skills, though the specific professions were not clear. She had explained that those hired would be given jobs and taught how to speak Russian.
There have been allegations that some individuals recruited to work in Tatarstan have ended up working in a weapons factory, producing drones used in Russia’s war in Ukraine. In her Instagram apology, Cyan acknowledged that “human trafficking is a very, very serious matter,” adding that the backlash had been a “huge learning curve” for her and “and all the other influencers.”
“I knew this is something I had to delete immediately, I didn’t care about the money,” she said. “I apologise and I believe that this is not something that will be repeated again.”
The job videos have led to significant social media backlash, and a petition has been launched calling on influencers to instead use their platforms to “spread awareness about the signs and dangers of trafficking.”
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the scheme. Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel stated that “so-called opportunities” were often “linked to serious risks of labour exploitation and human trafficking.”
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He advised, “Never rely solely on social media promotions or unsolicited social media advertisements, always cross-check and verify job opportunities through official channels.”
One of the main recruiters for the scheme promoted by Cyan and other influencers is a special economic zone in Tatarstan, believed to be where the weapons are produced. A May report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime investigated the recruitment of people for the “start” program.
It found that “potential recruits are enticed to participate under false pretences regarding the nature of the work, the working conditions and opportunities for education,” adding that the objective is to support the “drone production programme.”
The report stated that most recruits “work directly in drone production, while others work as support staff – cleaners and caterers.” In one of her now-deleted videos, Cyan had claimed, “apparently girls are treated fairly here – Africans, Asians, Latin Americans.”
