SA FM radio presenter Nonkululeko Mantula has been exposed as one of the masterminds lure South Africans to go to Russia to fight for its war against Ukraine.
Mantula appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on Monday alongside other four co-accused for contravening of Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.
She was in court with Thulani Mazibuko(24), Xolani Ntuli(47), Siphamandla Tshabalala( 23) and Sifiso Mabena(21).
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation(HAWKS) confirmed that she was arrested on Saturday at the OR Tambo International Airport as she was returning from an international trip overseas, and the police were alerted of suspicious individuals at the airport.
"The arrests emanate from a tip off from OR Tambo SAPS regarding three males en route to Russia via the United Arab Emirates who were removed from the boarding gate as suspicious and referred to the Hawks' Crimes Against the State(CATS) section. Preliminary investigation revealed that a South African female had been facilitating the travel and recruitment of these individuals into the Russian Federation Military. The fourth suspect was arrested as she returned from an international overseas trip and the fifth on Saturday,29 November 2025.
Search and seizure warrants were obtained for the accused who is believed to be involved in the facilitation of the four individuals as well as the another individual had already left the country for Russia. Upon the individual's arrival at OR Tambo International Airport(ORTIA) on 27 November 2025, the individual was interviewed, during which further evidence was uncovered. This led to the arrest of three additional male suspects on 28 November 2025. Electronic gadgets and two backpacks were seized for further investigation," the Hawks said.
Mantula and her co-accused will be back in court on Monday, 08 December 2025, for formal bail application and were remanded in custody.
The Hawks added that coordination with intelligence and international law enforcement agencies is ongoing to determine the full extent of the network and any further security threats.