Hawks Arrest Four South Africans Accused Of Attempting To Join Russian Military

Four South Africans were taken into custody after allegedly attempting to travel abroad to join the Russian military. The Hawks’ Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation confirmed the arrests, made on Saturday, following a police alert at OR Tambo International Airport.

Sources have indicated that a well-known media personality is among those detained, although officials have not released any names. The arrests were triggered when airport police reported four men preparing to fly to Russia via the United Arab Emirates.

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The group was intercepted at the boarding gate and later handed to the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit. They are due to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 1 December 2025, for allegedly contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.

Probe Into Alleged South African Recruitment Network

According to the Hawks, early investigations point to a South African woman accused of arranging travel and facilitating recruitment for the Russian Federation military. Search-and-seizure operations were conducted in connection with additional suspects believed to be linked to the broader facilitation network.

“A search and seizure warrant was executed for an additional suspect believed to be involved in the facilitation of the four men, as well as a fifth individual who had already departed South Africa for Russia,” the Hawks said.

Authorities confirmed that the suspect was interviewed upon arrival at OR Tambo on 27 November 2025, which led to further evidence being uncovered.

This development triggered the arrest of three more suspects on 28 November. Investigators seized electronic devices and two backpacks as part of the ongoing probe.

Intelligence Agencies Assess National Security Risks

The Hawks say they are collaborating with both local and international intelligence services to determine the scale of the alleged recruitment operation. “Coordination with intelligence structures and international counterparts is ongoing to determine the full extent of the network and any further potential security threats,” the agency added.

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In a related political development, former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, resigned as an MK Party MP amid allegations that she was involved in recruiting 17 men to travel to Russia. Her resignation was announced at a press briefing in Durban on Friday.

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