Summary
A South African radio presenter and four other people have been charged with trying to recruit men to join the Russian military. They were arrested in Johannesburg after trying to travel to Russia without official permission. The issue comes amid concerns about South Africans allegedly being lured to join mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Key Facts
- Nonkululeko Patricia Mantula, a South African radio presenter, is charged with facilitating the recruitment of people for the Russian military.
- Four men, aged 21 to 46, are also charged alongside Mantula.
- They were stopped at Johannesburg's international airport while trying to travel to Russia via the UAE.
- Charges are based on a law that forbids joining a foreign army without South Africa's permission.
- The arrests mark the first since South Africa reported 17 of its citizens were misled into joining mercenary groups for the Russia-Ukraine war.
- The accused appeared in court and are due for a bail hearing on December 8.
- Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, former President Jacob Zuma's daughter, recently resigned from parliament amid related allegations.
- South Africa faces a high unemployment rate, contributing to vulnerabilities in such recruitment cases.
