Five South Africans are facing charges in court over allegations they were recruited to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine. According to police, a female suspect was arrested upon her return to Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport on Thursday, while three more suspects were apprehended at the airport the following day and another on Saturday.
The arrests came after two daughters of former South African president Jacob Zuma filed competing affidavits alleging that 17 men, including eight Zuma relatives, had been tricked into joining Russia's military in eastern Ukraine. One of the alleged recruiters, a woman named Siphokazi Xuma, claimed she was deceived by her co-conspirator Blessing Khoza to join what she thought was a legitimate training program.
Among those charged are prominent South African radio presenter Nonkululeko Mantula, 39, who hosts the Morning Bliss show on SAfm. Her social media posts showed her speaking at events in Moscow and suggesting ties to Russia. Mantula has been accused of facilitating travel and recruitment for the Russian military, although it is unclear how far she knew about their true intentions.
Other suspects include Thulani Mazibuko, 24, Xolani Ntuli, 47, Siphamandla Tshabalala, 23, and Sfiso Mabena, 21. The five are currently in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for December 8. The charges they face carry severe penalties, as it is illegal for South Africans to fight or aid foreign militaries without government authorization.
The investigation into the recruitment of the 17 men comes after allegations emerged that some were coerced into joining Russia's military under false pretenses. As South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa's office investigated the matter, it was revealed that some individuals had become trapped in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the EU has taken steps to crack down on what it describes as pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation through organizations like the Brics Journalists Association, which is itself facing sanctions over ties to Russia. The association was founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led the notorious Wagner group until his death in a plane crash last year.
As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, the South African government has vowed to bring those involved in recruiting men for Russia's military to justice.
The arrests came after two daughters of former South African president Jacob Zuma filed competing affidavits alleging that 17 men, including eight Zuma relatives, had been tricked into joining Russia's military in eastern Ukraine. One of the alleged recruiters, a woman named Siphokazi Xuma, claimed she was deceived by her co-conspirator Blessing Khoza to join what she thought was a legitimate training program.
Among those charged are prominent South African radio presenter Nonkululeko Mantula, 39, who hosts the Morning Bliss show on SAfm. Her social media posts showed her speaking at events in Moscow and suggesting ties to Russia. Mantula has been accused of facilitating travel and recruitment for the Russian military, although it is unclear how far she knew about their true intentions.
Other suspects include Thulani Mazibuko, 24, Xolani Ntuli, 47, Siphamandla Tshabalala, 23, and Sfiso Mabena, 21. The five are currently in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for December 8. The charges they face carry severe penalties, as it is illegal for South Africans to fight or aid foreign militaries without government authorization.
The investigation into the recruitment of the 17 men comes after allegations emerged that some were coerced into joining Russia's military under false pretenses. As South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa's office investigated the matter, it was revealed that some individuals had become trapped in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the EU has taken steps to crack down on what it describes as pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation through organizations like the Brics Journalists Association, which is itself facing sanctions over ties to Russia. The association was founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led the notorious Wagner group until his death in a plane crash last year.
As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, the South African government has vowed to bring those involved in recruiting men for Russia's military to justice.
. It raises serious questions about the extent of state-sponsored propaganda and disinformation campaigns targeting our continent. The involvement of prominent figures such as Nonkululeko Mantula, a well-known radio presenter, adds a layer of complexity to the situation.
. It highlights the vulnerability of certain segments of our population to manipulation and coercion. The EU's efforts to combat pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation are a positive step, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of this issue.
. It is essential that we take these allegations seriously and hold accountable those responsible. The consequences of such actions can be severe, with penalties ranging from imprisonment to financial sanctions.
... I mean, 17 guys, including some Zuma relatives, recruited by Russia and shipped off to Ukraine? It's like, what were they thinking? And now we've got these five South Africans facing charges for allegedly helping Russia out. Mantula, the radio presenter, just thought she was hosting events in Moscow and chatting with people online... how far did her involvement go? 
I'm like totally shocked 
by this news about South Africans being recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine 
It's soooo not cool 
especially when it involves people from Jacob Zuma's family tree 
And Nonkululeko Mantula is a big name too 
hosting the Morning Bliss show and all 
that some people were tricked into joining Russia's military under false pretenses 
and now they're facing serious charges 
The government should really look into this ASAP 
in a way that's not too aggressive 
because we don't want any more tension between Russia and Ukraine 