South African Radio Presenter and Four Others Charged in Alleged Recruitment for Russian Military
Johannesburg, South Africa - A radio presenter employed by South Africa's public broadcaster, Nonkululeko Patricia Mantula, has appeared in court alongside four co-accused on charges related to the alleged recruitment of individuals for the Russian military.
Mantula, 39, a presenter for The Morning Bliss on SABC's SAFM radio station, is one of five individuals facing charges under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act. This legislation prohibits South African citizens from joining foreign armies without official government permission. The accused have not yet entered a plea.
Arrests and Allegations
The arrests followed a tip-off received by police at South Africa's main international airport in Johannesburg. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reported that the individuals were intercepted at the boarding gate while attempting to travel to Russia via the United Arab Emirates, after being deemed suspicious. The NPA alleges that Mantula facilitated the travel and recruitment of her co-accused into the Russian Federation military. The co-accused are four men aged between 21 and 46.
Mantula and her co-accused made a brief appearance at the Kempton Park Magistrates' Court near Johannesburg on Monday and were remanded in custody. Their next court appearance is scheduled for December 8 for a bail hearing.
Government Stance and Related Cases
The NPA has stated its commitment to ensuring accountability for individuals who violate national laws and to working with law-enforcement partners to protect South Africa's integrity and security.
These arrests represent the first legal action since the South African government reported in November that 17 citizens had "seemingly" been lured to join mercenary forces involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Police have indicated that, at this stage, they are not linking the two cases.
The broader context includes the recent resignation of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, from parliament. Zuma-Sambudla has been accused by her half-sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, of misrepresenting the purpose of travel for the 17 South African men, including some relatives, who allegedly went to fight for Russia. Zuma-Sambudla denies these allegations, stating in an affidavit that she believed the men were traveling to Russia for "lawful" training. Her party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), stated her resignation was to focus on ensuring the return of those trapped in a war zone. South Africa's elite police unit, the Hawks, is investigating the complaint against her.
South Africa's government has previously condemned the methods used to recruit individuals, particularly in a country with high youth unemployment exceeding 30%. Incidents involving foreign nationals being recruited for or caught in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have also been reported in other African nations, including Kenya, Senegal, and Nigeria, with some governments taking action against such recruitment efforts.