By Mulalo Luvhimbi
Five Zimbabwean nationals accused of attempting to travel through South Africa to join the Russia-Ukraine war will return to court on 17 November after their bail hearing was postponed on Tuesday because the state prosecutor was unavailable.
The five appeared briefly in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court, where they face charges under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 15 of 1998.
They are among nine Zimbabwean nationals arrested on Sunday during an intelligence-driven operation involving the Hawks, Interpol and other law enforcement agencies.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) alleges that the accused intended to use South Africa as a transit country before travelling to fight in the war.
The five men are Weight Mudhanyane (23), Javangwe Munyaradzi (41), Wesley Sothole (24), Abel Muchenje (40) and Knowledge Ndunduma (46).
Four other Zimbabwean nationals arrested during the same operation at a hotel in Bruma, Johannesburg, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
They are Bobo Chinhondo (43), Batsirai Shereni (24), Liberty Shereni (44) and Niobe Zhou (37).
Their case was postponed to Thursday to allow them to secure legal representation.
The NPA said all nine accused remained in custody following Monday’s proceedings.
The arrests come amid growing concern over the recruitment of African nationals to participate in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
In March, Zimbabwean authorities reported that 15 of their citizens had been killed in the conflict and said they were seeking the return of another 66.
Zimbabwean officials said some nationals had been lured abroad by promises of well-paid employment, only to have their travel documents confiscated and be forced into combat.
