A prominent South African radio presenter and four other individuals are in custody following a high-profile investigation into the alleged illegal recruitment of citizens to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine. The arrests, which took place over several days last week, mark a significant escalation in a case that has already ensnared the family of former President Jacob Zuma and prompted a parliamentary resignation.
The five suspects—Nonkululeko Patricia Mantula, a broadcaster with the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s SAFM station, Thulani Mazibuko, Xolani Ntuli, Siphamandla Tshabalala, and Sfiso Mabena—were intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Authorities allege they were attempting to travel to Russia via the United Arab Emirates. They now face charges under South Africa’s Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, which criminalizes joining or aiding foreign armed forces without state sanction.
This development follows a prior government investigation, initiated in November, into the fate of 17 South African men allegedly deceived into traveling to Russia under false pretenses. Relatives of the men contend they were promised bodyguard training for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) political party, only to be coerced into military service on the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. Notably, eight of the alleged victims are reported to be relatives of the Zuma family.
The case took a dramatic political turn when Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, sister of former MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, filed a formal police accusation on 22 November. She alleged that her sister, along with associates Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, were responsible for recruiting the men. While not among those arrested last week, Zuma-Sambudla resigned from her parliamentary seat last Friday, citing the intense public scrutiny. In a sworn affidavit, she has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, stating, “I would not, under any circumstances, knowingly expose my own family or any other person to harm.”
According to law enforcement, the recent arrests were precipitated by a tip-off from airport police regarding three suspicious male travelers. “Preliminary investigation revealed that a South African female had been facilitating the travel and recruitment of these individuals into the Russian Federation military,” a police statement confirmed, alluding to Mantula’s alleged central role. The five accused are scheduled for a bail hearing on 8 December.
The unfolding scandal presents a multifaceted crisis for South Africa. It exposes an apparent vulnerability to international military recruitment networks, tests the enforcement of non-alignment statutes in the context of a polarizing global conflict, and fuels domestic political tensions. The National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks investigative unit are continuing their probe into the wider network, while the government faces the complex diplomatic challenge of repatriating citizens allegedly trapped in a war zone.
The outcome of the judicial proceedings will be closely watched, not only for its implications for the accused but also for what it reveals about the mechanisms and motivations behind the shadowy recruitment of South Africans into foreign armies.