The South African Police Service has arrested four men at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on suspicion that they had signed up to join Russian forces to fight in the war in Ukraine, the police announced on Saturday.
The arrests follow reports that sparked controversy last week regarding an investigation into the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, over allegations that she was involved in recruiting young people to join Russian mercenary groups fighting in Ukraine.
The individuals were arrested on Thursday and Friday following a tip-off. Officials said they will be brought before a court near Johannesburg on Monday.
The Special Investigating Unit, HAWKS, stated that preliminary investigations indicate that a South African woman assisted in organizing and recruiting the individuals and arranged their travel for military service in Russia.
The police allege that the youths violated national law, which prohibits citizens from engaging in military service in another country without government approval.
Last week, authorities began investigating claims that Zuma-Sambudla had recruited 17 men to go to Russia to fight in Ukraine without their knowledge or consent. Following the allegations, she resigned from her seat in Parliament.
Data from Kyiv indicate that 1,426 Africans from 36 countries have joined Russian forces, although the actual number could be higher.
In addition to combat roles, some reports from major international media indicate that African women are being offered lucrative contracts to work in Russian factories producing unmanned combat aircraft (drones), particularly in the Tatarstan region in central Russia.
