Johannesburg – South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, has arrested four individuals accused of unlawfully recruiting South African citizens to join Russian military forces in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
The suspects appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and face charges under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, which makes it illegal for South African citizens or residents to participate in foreign armed conflicts or to recruit others for such purposes without government authorisation.
According to the Hawks, the four are alleged to have facilitated the recruitment and travel of South Africans to Russia for military training and subsequent deployment to the front lines in Ukraine. The investigation remains active, with law enforcement authorities indicating that additional arrests are possible as further evidence is gathered.
The arrests come amid heightened international scrutiny of South Africa’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Pretoria has maintained a policy of non-alignment and has repeatedly called for a negotiated resolution while abstaining from United Nations votes that condemn Russian actions. The case has revived questions about the extent of private military-related activities on South African soil involving foreign powers.
In a separate but related development, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma and a member of parliament for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, resigned from her seat following allegations that she was connected to the recruitment of 17 South African men reportedly sent to Russia for military purposes. The MK Party has not issued an official statement linking her resignation directly to the recruitment probe.
The four accused remain in custody pending a formal bail application. The matter has been postponed to allow the state to complete its investigation and for the defence to prepare.
South African authorities have emphasised that the country remains neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war and that any violation of the Foreign Military Assistance Act will be prosecuted regardless of the foreign entity involved.
The outcome of the case is being closely monitored by diplomatic missions in Pretoria, particularly from Western countries that have previously expressed concern over South Africa’s military and economic ties with Russia.
