South Africa Arrests 10th Suspect in Mercenary Recruitment Probe Linked to Russia-Ukraine War

JOHANNESBURG — A tenth individual has been arrested on suspicion of violating South African mercenary laws by attempting to travel from South Africa to Russia to participate in the war in Ukraine, authorities announced Thursday.

Nine other people were taken into custody earlier this week as part of a joint investigation by Interpol and the South African Police Service into recruitment operations for the conflict.

Five of the suspects appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where prosecutors signaled their intention to oppose bail applications.

The remaining four were expected in court Thursday following their arrest at a Johannesburg hotel while preparing to board flights to Russia, according to police spokesperson Katlego Mogale.

The first nine suspects have been identified as Zimbabwean nationals. Prosecutors stated Tuesday that five of them provided Zimbabwean addresses during processing. They face charges under South Africa’s Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, which prohibits mercenary activity and regulates military assistance to parties in foreign conflicts, including recruitment and training.

Several groups of South Africans have been repatriated after reporting they were deceived into fighting on the front lines in Ukraine. They said they were initially promised security training in Russia. Reports from other African countries indicate many were lured by promises of lucrative jobs and generous benefits through deceptive advertising on social media platforms. Authorities have arrested several individuals in South Africa for allegedly facilitating these recruitments.

Radio presenter Nonkululeko Mantula was charged in late 2025 with recruiting four South African men to join Russia’s military; the men also face charges.

In March, Zimbabwean authorities reported that 15 citizens had been killed in the war in Ukraine and that they were seeking the return of 66 others. They stated recruits were promised well-paid employment but had their travel documents confiscated and were forced into combat.

Kenya’s government disclosed in February that more than 1,000 citizens had been recruited to fight for Russia. Families protested in Nairobi in March, demanding their relatives’ return and the prosecution of those responsible.

Police also investigated allegations that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, assisted in recruiting 17 South African men to fight for Russia with promises of security training. She denied wrongdoing and resigned from Parliament in November 2025 following the allegations.

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