Nonkululeko Mantula, a well-known radio personality, was among four others who appeared in court on Monday morning accused of recruiting South Africans to join the Russian military.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Five suspects accused of luring five men to Russia for gun training programmes appeared in Kempton Park Magistrate's Court today. Among the suspects was a SAFM radio presenter, attached to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
Nonkululeko Mantula, 39, who hosts the morning show "The Morning Bliss", which is aired between 3am and 5am on weekdays, was charged alongside Thulani Mazibuko, 24, Xolani Ntuli, 47, Siphamandla Tshabalala, 23, and Sfiso Mabena, 21, for the contravention of the regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.
Mantula and the other four have been detained in custody pending a formal bail application in seven days.
Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the arrests followed a tip-off received from the OR Tambo SAPS branch that three men were enroute to Russia via the United Arab Emirates.
"They were removed from a boarding gate after raising suspicion and referred to the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State (CATS) section.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that a South African woman had been facilitating the travel and recruitment of these individuals into the Russian Federation military,” she said.
The fourth suspect was arrested upon returning from an overseas trip, while the fifth was detained on Saturday (November 29).
Search and seizure warrants were executed for the accused who are believed to have facilitated the four individuals attempt to travel, as well as that of another who had already departed for Russia.
“Upon the individual’s arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, the individual was interviewed, during which further evidence was uncovered,” Mogale said.
This led to the arrest of three additional male suspects the next day.
She said electronic devices and two backpacks were seized for further investigation.
“Coordination with intelligence and international law-enforcement agencies is ongoing to determine the full extent of the network and any further security threats,” Mogale added.
DAILY NEWS