Five South Africans in court over alleged recruitment for Russia’s war in Ukraine

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Rachel Savage in JohannesburgDecember 1, 2025 at 03:43 PM

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Five South Africans appeared in court, charged with recruiting and fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war. The arrests followed a tip about suspicious individuals en route to Russia via the UAE, leading to the discovery of a South African woman allegedly facilitating the recruitment. The suspects, including a radio presenter, are being held until a bail hearing on December 8th. The arrests occurred after police reports filed by daughters of former President Jacob Zuma, alleging the recruitment of South Africans, including Zuma relatives, under false pretenses of bodyguard training for the MK party. The South African government is investigating how these men became involved in the conflict and is working to repatriate them. It is illegal for South Africans to fight for foreign militaries without government authorization.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

South Africa ×360% Jacob Zuma ×370% Ukraine ×270% Cyril Ramaphosa ×280% Russia ×280%

Keywords

recruitment 90% russia's war in ukraine 80% south africans 70% arrests 60% police investigation 50% foreign militaries 50% or tambo airport 40% human trafficking 40%