five South African suspects appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng for their first court appearance, facing charges of contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act (No. 15 of 1998). The group was arrested over the weekend following a tip-off to police at OR Tambo International Airport, where four of the men were allegedly intercepted while attempting to board a flight to Russia via the United Arab Emirates. The investigation, led by the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit, revealed that the suspects were linked to the illegal recruitment of South Africans to join Russian forces in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
- Nonkululeko Mantula (39): A senior broadcaster at state-owned SAfm radio station and co-chairperson of the Association of BRICS Journalists. Authorities allege she facilitated the recruitment and travel arrangements for the other suspects to join the Russian military. Notably, Mantula had reportedly left the country prior to her arrest.
- Thulani Mazibuko (24): One of the four men suspected of being recruited to fight.
- Xolani Ntuli (47): Another recruit suspect.
- Siphamandla Tshabalala (23): Suspected recruit.
- Sfiso Mabena (21): The youngest suspect, also allegedly recruited to fight.
All five remain in custody as of the court appearance.
Court Proceedings
State prosecutor Erasmus informed the court that the prosecution would oppose bail at this initial stage, citing the need for further investigation. However, he indicated that the state’s position could change following preliminary inquiries, potentially allowing bail to be granted at the next hearing. The case has been postponed to December 8, 2025, for a formal bail application and further proceedings.
The operation stemmed from intelligence received by OR Tambo police, who flagged the four male suspects as suspicious at the boarding gate. They were removed from the flight and handed over to the Hawks for questioning. Initial probes uncovered Mantula’s role in coordinating their journey and recruitment into the Russian Federation’s military. This marks the latest development in an ongoing Hawks investigation into a broader network allegedly funneling South Africans into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with a fifth suspect (Mantula) arrested after the initial four.
The Foreign Military Assistance Act prohibits South Africans from providing military training, assistance, or services to foreign forces without government approval, reflecting South Africa’s neutral stance in international conflicts. This case highlights growing concerns over foreign recruitment efforts targeting South Africans amid the prolonged Ukraine war.
