Cyan Boujee's Apologises for Promoting a Trafficking Scheme. Image- Gallo Images/ Getty Images.
(The Post News)- South African influencer Cyan Boujee, whose real name is Honour Zuma, has issued a public apology after promoting a controversial job in Russia.
The scheme, which quickly drew criticism, specifically targeted young women in South Africa, a country where high youth unemployment has left many desperate for work opportunities.
The backlash began when one of Boujee’s promotional videos went viral. In the clip, she encouraged women between the ages of 18 and 22 to apply for overseas jobs, presenting the opportunity as legitimate and promising. However, viewers raised immediate concerns about the legitimacy of the scheme and its potential links to human trafficking. As public alarm grew, the South African government stepped in, issuing a formal warning about the dangers of unverified job offers abroad and urging citizens to remain cautious of such opportunities.
Cyan Boujee’s Apology.
The influencer who has a following of over 902,000 on Instagram, addressed the controversy in a statement on her platform. “As soon as I saw the comments on my stories and on my videos, I realised that this was not something I could support or be associated with,” the 24-year-old explained. She expressed regret for her involvement, claiming she was unaware of the potential risks when she initially agreed to promote the job offer.
Her apology comes amid increasing concern about social media influencers being used to market questionable schemes without fully understanding the implications. Critics have urged the public figures to be more responsible and thoroughly research any any brand or campaigns they promote in vulnerable countries.
Boujee’s involvement in the scandal has sparked broader conversations about the role of influencers in spreading potentially harmful information and the ethical responsibility they carry when promoting services to large audiences.
Over the weekend, Cyan posted a video on TikTok where she has 1.7 million followers filmed in Tatarstan, Russia. In the clip, she promoted what she called a two-year “start programme” aimed at helping young women develop professional skills. However, she did not specify which professions the programme involved.
She claimed that participants would receive jobs and learn to speak Russian as part of the programme.
Since then, serious concerns have emerged. Allegations suggest that some women recruited through this initiative were assigned to work in weapons factories in Tatarstan, where they reportedly helped manufacture drones used in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The job promotion videos have sparked major backlash across social media, prompting users to launch a petition urging influencers to use their platforms to raise awareness about the signs and dangers of human trafficking instead.
In response to the growing concern, authorities have opened a formal investigation into the recruitment scheme. Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel warned that these so-called job opportunities often involve serious risks, including forced labour and human trafficking.
“Never rely solely on social media ads or unsolicited online job offers,” he cautioned in a statement on Wednesday. “Always verify opportunities through official channels before taking action.”
Investigators have identified one of the main recruiters involved in the scheme — a special economic zone in Tatarstan, Russia, reportedly linked to weapons manufacturing. This is the same zone that influencers, including Cyan, promoted in their videos.
A May report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime revealed that the “start” programme misleads potential recruits with false promises about the type of work, working conditions, and educational prospects. According to the report, the real goal is to support Russia’s drone production programme.
Most of the recruits, the report found, end up working directly in drone manufacturing, while others are assigned to support roles such as cleaning and food service.
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