"South African Radio Host Arrested Over Alleged Russia Fighter Recruitment"

Nonkululeko Mantula, a 39-year-old South African radio presenter, appeared in court on Monday in connection with allegations that she recruited men to fight for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The case comes as authorities expand investigations into illegal foreign military enlistment.

According to NBC News, Mantula was arrested following a tip-off, alongside four men she allegedly recruited to join the Russian army. Police reported that three of the men were intercepted at an airport while attempting to board a flight to Russia via the United Arab Emirates, while another is believed to have already traveled to Russia.

South African law prohibits citizens from serving in foreign armies without government approval. All five suspects have been remanded in custody pending their bail hearing next week.

Mantula, a presenter with the state broadcaster SAFM, was detained as part of a broader investigation involving Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma. Zuma-Sambudla resigned last week as a Member of Parliament for the MK Party amid allegations that she deceived 17 men with promises of training and employment in Russia.

Reports indicate that the men were allegedly misled into traveling to Russia under the pretext of receiving security training, only to be forced to fight for a Russian mercenary group in eastern Ukraine. Some of the men reportedly had their passports and personal belongings confiscated, and their clothes and cellphones burned upon arrival, according to political sources.

The South African government has confirmed receiving distress calls from the men and is working with international law enforcement to facilitate their repatriation. Authorities have also issued warnings urging citizens to exercise caution regarding influencers promoting job or study opportunities in Russia.

Mantula and Zuma-Sambudla’s cases highlight growing concerns over misleading recruitment tactics and the exploitation of South Africans for foreign conflicts. Russian recruitment campaigns have reportedly targeted African nationals through social media, offering deceptive job opportunities, including work in drone manufacturing.

Zuma-Sambudla has previously drawn scrutiny for her social-media activity, with a 2023 report from the Centre for Information Resilience stating that her account helped circulate pro-Russia messages shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.