Hawks arrest tenth suspect in alleged Russia-Ukraine recruitment case
The suspect, a 38-year-old foreign national, was arrested on Wednesday and faces charges under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 15 of 1998.
South African police arrested a 38-year-old foreign national on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to travel from South Africa to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. The arrest brings to 10 the number of foreign nationals arrested in South Africa for the same alleged crime this week.
The arrest was made by an integrated investigation team that included Interpol Pretoria, the Hawks, Crime Intelligence and the Gauteng Provincial Tracking Team, according to the South African Police Service. The suspect faces charges under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 15 of 1998.
On Monday, nine Zimbabwean nationals appeared in two Gauteng courts after their arrest on 8 November 2026. Five appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court after being arrested at OR Tambo International Airport, and four appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court after being arrested at a hotel in Bruma. All nine remain in custody.
Why it mattersAnyone travelling from South Africa to join a foreign conflict faces arrest and charges under the Foreign Military Assistance Act, which bars citizens from taking part in foreign armies without government authorisation.