South African authorities have arrested four men en route to Russia, suspected of being recruited to fight in the Russian military, police said on Saturday.
The men were stopped at the boarding gate in Johannesburg on Friday, weeks after reports emerged that another 17 South African men were stranded in Ukraine after allegedly being lured into joining mercenary forces with promises of lucrative contracts.
It is illegal under South African law for citizens to provide military assistance to foreign governments or participate in foreign armies without authorisation.
“The arrests followed a tip-off from [Johannesburg airport police] regarding four males who were en route to Russia via the United Arab Emirates,” the elite Hawks police unit said in a statement.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that a South African female had allegedly been facilitating the travel and recruitment of these individuals into the Russian Federation military.”
The Hawks confirmed that the four suspects are expected to appear in court on Monday on suspicion of contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into how the 17 men ended up fighting in Ukraine, amid ongoing efforts to bring them home safely.
Police have also said they will investigate Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, who was accused by her half-sister of helping lure the men to Russia under false pretences. Zuma-Sambudla resigned as a member of parliament on Friday but has not publicly responded to the allegations.
