SAfm’s Nonkululeko Mantula, four others remanded over Russian military recruitment

Well-known radio personality Nonkululeko Mantula was among four others who appeared in court on Monday morning for allegedly recruiting South Africans to join the Russian military.

Mantula, 39, and Thulani Mazibuko, 24, Xolani Ntuli, 47, Siphamandla Tshabalala, 23, and Sfiso Mabena, 21, are charged with the contravention of the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.

They appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court and have been remanded in custody pending a formal bail application in seven days. 

Mantula is a presenter of SAfm. 

The suspects were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) over the weekend. 

Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the arrests followed a tip-off from OR Tambo SAPS about three men en route 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, 2025.

Search and seizure warrants were executed for the accused, believed to have facilitated the four individuals, as well as another who had already departed for Russia.

“Upon the individual’s arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on November 27, the individual was interviewed, during which further evidence was uncovered,” Mogale said.

This led to the arrest of three additional male suspects on November 28. 

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.

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