South African authorities have sent a radio presenter to court, accusing her of recruiting citizens to join Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
Nonkululeko Mantula, 39, was arrested after police received a tip and later detained four men she is alleged to have enlisted for Russia’s army. Investigators say Mantula coordinated plans for the group to travel abroad and join the conflict.
According to police, three of the men were stopped at an airport while attempting to fly to Russia via the United Arab Emirates, while officers believe a fifth recruit managed to leave the country earlier. South African law bans citizens from serving in another nation’s armed forces without official authorization, and all five suspects have been remanded in custody ahead of a bail hearing next week.
Mantula, known for her role on SAFM, the state broadcaster’s flagship radio station, was arrested as authorities pursue a separate inquiry involving a daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, AP reported. That case centers on allegations that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla lured 17 men into traveling to Russia under the false promise of security-related training that would lead to employment.
Zuma-Sambudla resigned from her parliamentary seat in the MK Party last week following the accusations, which emerged after her half-sister claimed she had deceived the men. South Africa’s government said it was contacted last month by the stranded recruits, who reported being forced into combat roles for a Russian mercenary group in eastern Ukraine. Another political party has alleged that upon arrival, the men’s phones were seized, their documents taken and their clothing destroyed.
Officials have since opened an investigation into how the group ended up on the front lines and are working with international partners to bring them home.
Russia has long faced allegations of targeting foreign nationals with misleading job offers to bolster its war effort. South African authorities say similar tactics have been used to recruit women for factory work in Russia’s drone industry, with deceptive social media campaigns advertising roles in hospitality and catering.
The government has urged citizens to treat online job offers linked to Russia with extreme caution, especially those amplified by South African influencers promoting study or work opportunities abroad.
Zuma-Sambudla, already a controversial figure, has previously drawn criticism for her online support of Russia’s position in the Ukraine conflict. A 2023 report by the Centre for Information Resilience stated that her social media activity helped push pro-Russian narratives in the months following the February 2022 invasion.
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