A South African radio presenter appeared in court on Monday Secember 1, accused of recruiting men to fight for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Nonkululeko Mantula, 39, was arrested along with four men after a police tip-off, authorities said. She is accused of organizing and recruiting the men to join the Russian army.
Arrests and Investigation Details
South African police said three of the men were detained while trying to board a flight to Russia via the United Arab Emirates. Officials believe another recruit had already traveled to Russia.
It is illegal in South Africa to fight for a foreign army without government permission. The five suspects were ordered to remain in custody until a bail hearing next week.
Mantula works as a presenter for SAFM, a state-owned radio station. Her arrest comes amid a separate investigation into Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma. Zuma-Sambudla is accused of misleading 17 men into fighting as mercenaries for Russia.
Zuma-Sambudla Allegations
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigned last week from her position as a lawmaker for her father’s opposition MK Party after the allegations. She is accused by her half-sister of tricking men into traveling to Russia under the pretense of receiving security training that could help them get jobs.
South African authorities said they received distress calls from the 17 men, who were forced to fight for a Russian mercenary group in eastern Ukraine. Reports indicate that the men’s passports and clothes were burned and their phones confiscated upon arrival in Russia.
The South African government is investigating the case and working with international law enforcement to repatriate the men.
Russia’s Recruitment Tactics
Russia has been accused of recruiting foreigners to fight in Ukraine, often under false promises of employment. Reports also suggest women from South Africa and other African countries have been lured to work in Russian drone factories with misleading job offers in hospitality and catering.
South African authorities have warned citizens to be cautious of job and study opportunities in Russia promoted by social media influencers.
A 2023 report by the international nonprofit Centre for Information Resilience said Zuma-Sambudla’s social media accounts were used to spread pro-Russia messages shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.