OR Tambo International Airport
Five South Africans — including a radio presenter — arrested over alleged attempts to recruit compatriots to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war are expected back in court for bail proceedings. The group is charged under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act after being intercepted at OR Tambo Airport.
Five individuals arrested in connection with an alleged scheme to recruit South Africans into the Russian military are due to appear in court on Monday for bail proceedings, following their first hearing earlier this week.
The case began when police acting on a tip-off intercepted three young men at OR Tambo International Airport as they attempted to board a flight to Russia via the United Arab Emirates. A fourth person was detained shortly after, and police later arrested a fifth suspect believed to have facilitated the arrangement.
Among the accused is a prominent radio presenter with a national broadcaster. Authorities allege she played a central role in coordinating travel and recruitment for Russian military forces. The other four suspects, men aged between 21 and 47, stand accused of being recruits or facilitators in the scheme.
All five are charged under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act (RFMAA), which prohibits South Africans from providing assistance to or joining foreign paramilitary or military operations without government approval.
At their initial court appearance, the accused were remanded in custody and the case postponed to Monday for a formal bail application. Prosecutors indicated they are still deciding whether to oppose bail. Security agencies involved in the investigation include the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), which confirmed that electronic devices and other evidence were seized during search and seizure operations to probe the network behind the alleged recruitment.
Analysts familiar with the case have warned that charges under the RFMAA might not fully capture the severity of the alleged offence. They argue that if individuals were knowingly lured into a war zone, more serious charges may be warranted.
The alleged recruitment operation has sparked national concern, especially given reports that dozens of other South Africans have already ended up in Russia or conflict zones after similar recruitment efforts. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and more arrests or charges could follow as they trace the broader network
