South Africa Arrests Four Men Allegedly Recruited to Fight for Russia in Ukraine
South African authorities have detained four men who were allegedly recruited to join the Russian army and were preparing to travel to Russia.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Bloomberg.
The suspects were arrested on Friday at O.R. Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg. According to the Hawks – the South African Police Service’s specialized unit responsible for national security cases – the men are accused of violating domestic legislation that prohibits citizens from supporting foreign armed forces or participating in military conflicts abroad.
Investigators say the trip was arranged by a South African woman, whose identity has not been disclosed. The detainees allegedly planned to board a flight to the United Arab Emirates before continuing on to Russia.
After their arrest, they were transferred to the Hawks division that handles crimes against the state. The men are scheduled to appear in court on December 1.
South Africa’s public broadcaster reported that one of those arrested is a well-known media figure, though his name also remains confidential. Authorities confirmed that two additional suspects are currently being sought.
Mercenary activity or direct involvement in foreign hostilities has been classified as a criminal offense in South Africa since 1998, including assistance to a foreign military power.
The arrests come one week after Bloomberg revealed that roughly 20 young men from South Africa and Botswana had been lured into signing contracts with the Russian armed forces under false pretenses.
The report linked the recruitment effort to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, who allegedly facilitated contacts between Russian officials and potential fighters.
Earlier coverage indicated that Zuma-Sambudla has ties to wider recruitment networks targeting men from across Southern Africa to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
As The Gaze informed earlier, South Africa has launched an official investigation after it became known that its citizens, a group of men aged 20 to 39, sought help after finding themselves in an active combat zone in eastern Ukraine.
Read more on The Gaze: The Great Realignment: How the War in Ukraine Reshaped the Global South