Woman Shares Screenshots of Conversation With Russia’s Alabuga Start: “My Experience With Receipts”

• A 19-year-old woman named Brandiettah Motlaleng shared her experience communicating with Alabuga Start
• People accused the Russian programme of luring young African women with the chance to work and study in the country, but instead letting them work in a weapons factory
• Social media users shared their scepticism about the programme after Brandiettah provided her receipts

Brandiettah Motlaleng, a South African micro-influencer currently in Russia, shared her experience of Alabuga Start, a Russian programme that many alleged was linked to trafficking and exploiting young African women between the ages of 18 and 22.

On 25 August, 2025, the local content creator, who makes content with her boyfriend (also in Russia), uploaded a video on her TikTok account explaining her interaction with the company.

The 19-year-old stated that she was only sharing the information now because everything had finally fallen into place for her.

"My experience with receipts," she wrote in the caption.

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The young woman shared that she wanted to build her brand. This led her and her boyfriend to email and direct message the programme on several social media platforms. She shared a screenshot of the response she received from a PR specialist, who offered them a chance to advertise the programme.

Popular influencers such as Siyamthanda Anita and Cyan Boujee were already promoting the course. According to the site Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, young women were told they were joining a study-work programme in fields such as hospitality. However, they were employed in a weapons factory and allegedly experienced labour rights violations.

Radio host Anele Mdoda also contacted Alabuga Start, who shared that the programme takes two years to complete, depending on the route the applicant chooses.

Brandiettah stated that Alabuga Start also replied to the couple on WhatsApp, of which she had screenshots, as they had to check a proposal via the social media app. She noted in the comment section that they received their number from their official email.

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"We messaged them on a Monday, and they asked if Wednesday at 2pm Moscow time was convenient. We said yes. The first red flag that I picked up was that they didn't show up for the meeting after they said we should schedule a meeting."

The mini content creator said she was also confused to see Siyamthanda and Cyan being flown to Russia when she was already in the country, which could have cost the company less money.

Her boyfriend, fluent in Russian, also wondered about the recruitment of women aged between 18 and 22.

Brandiettah told the online community:

"In Siyamthanda's vlog, she spoke about this. The lady in the background said it was because young women pay attention to detail.

"I feel that girls aged between 18 and 22 are figuring out their lives. They're getting into university. They're not looking for a job."

South Africans comment on woman's receipts

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The young woman's receipts of her communication with the programme drew many social media users to the comment section. People expressed their thoughts about the controversy and what Brandiettah shared in her viral post.

@dlaminithubelihle said to the public:

"As much as I might be hated for this, before packing your bags to another country, do your research about the job or place. Find everything before leaving your whole life behind. As much as influencers should have researched, do your own."

@matsoaelamotoko wrote in the comment section:

"Those 18- to 22-year-olds should be in lecture rooms and stressing about assignments."

@babygirl.rachel_ shared under the post:

"The fact that there’s a very specific age criterion could have been very alarming as well."

Referring to how Brandiettah conversed with the company, @msleena_ noted:

"The first red flag is talking on WhatsApp."

@therealestg1 told the online community:

"Those influencers are so brave for going to Russia. They could have been easily kidnapped. They didn't even think about their safety themselves."

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@sada_ko42 stated in the comments:

"We need a proper investigation. The fact that they targeted Cyan and Thando’s audiences says it all."

Take a look at the TikTok video below:

3 Other stories about the Alabuga Start programme

• In another article, Briefly News reported that a man shared a video alleging that Russia recruited Africans to build drones used for the war in Ukraine under the guise of study-work programmes.
• A social media influencer, Sasha Domnikov, apologised to South Africans for promoting the Russian programme. He admitted that his team failed to see the red flags despite thorough vetting processes.
• South Africans pushed for a retail brand to drop influencer Siyamthanda Anita after she faced backlash for advertising the controversial Alabuga Start programme.

Source: Briefly News