Five suspects arrested in connection with the illegal recruitment of South Africans in the Russia-Ukraine conflict will appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng on Monday.
The accused were arrested last week at OR Tambo International Airport for contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.
This follows after 17 South African men who were lured into joining mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict with the promise of lucrative contracts.
The members received a tip-off about four men who were about to board a flight to Russia via the United Arab Emirates.
The members responded to the tip-off and found the suspects in possession of electronic gadgets and two backpacks.
The electronic gadgets were seized for further investigation.
Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, revealed that the fifth suspect was arrested on Sunday.
“Another suspect has been arrested for the Hawks’ crimes against the state in relation to the ongoing investigation into how several South Africans were facilitated into involvement in the Russia/Ukraine war,” said Mogale.
The Hawks further revealed that a South African woman is believed to have been facilitating the travel and recruitment of these individuals into the Russian Federation military.
SOUTH AFRICANS TRAPPED IN UKRAINE CONFLICT
It is alleged that these men were deceived into going to Russia and handed to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the Ukraine war without their knowledge.
These men have reportedly been in contact with their families, asking to be rescued.
These arrests come days after Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, resigned as a member of Parliament for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party amid allegations of human trafficking.
Zuma-Sambudlas is accused of luring South Africans to fight for Russia.
However, Zuma-Sambudla has denied all allegations against her regarding the trafficking charges.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has also laid criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla.
The DA’s spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, revealed that the party received evidence showing 100 WhatsApp messages allegedly from a group administered by Zuma-Sambudla.
According to the DA, these messages appear to show coordination in luring at least 22 men to Russia under the guise of security training and promises of Russian or Canadian citizenship.
