Mapaballo Borotho
- Four suspects, including a senior media personality, were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport for allegedly contravening the Foreign Military Assistance Regulation Act.
- They were intercepted following a tip-off and remain under investigation by the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State unit.
- Further arrests and seizures followed as authorities probe a wider recruitment network.
Four suspects, including a senior media personality, have been officially charged with allegedly contravening the Foreign Military Assistance Regulation Act.
This follows their arrest at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday. They are expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 01 December 2025.
The arrests came after a tip-off to OR Tambo SAPS about four males travelling to Russia via the United Arab Emirates.
Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale says the individuals were nabbed and removed from the boarding gate after being flagged as suspicious.
“They were subsequently referred to the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State (CATS) section. 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,” Mogale said.
A search-and-seizure warrant was executed for an additional suspect believed to be involved in facilitating the four men, as well as a fifth individual who had already left South Africa for Russia.
“Upon the suspect’s arrival at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) on 27 November 2025, the individual was interviewed, during which further evidence was uncovered.
This resulted in the arrest of three additional suspects on 28 November 2025. Electronic gadgets and two backpacks were seized for further investigation.”
Coordination with intelligence structures and international counterparts is ongoing to determine the full extent of the network and any potential security threats.
READ NEXT: Three killed in tragic Middleburg crash
The post Four suspects charged for allegedly seeking to join the Russian military at OR Tambo appeared first on KAYA 959.
