10th Zimbabwean Arrested Heading To Russia To Join War In A Space Of Just 3 Days
In the space of just two days, South African authorities have now arrested 10 Zimbabweans allegedly trying to leave South Africa to join the Russia-Ukraine war.
The latest arrest is that of a 35-year-old man identified only as Leon, who was nabbed on the night of November 10, 2026 at OR Tambo International Airport while allegedly trying to board a flight to Russia.
His arrest came just two days after nine other Zimbabweans were arrested in the same operation.
The nine were arrested on Sunday, November 8, in an intelligence-led operation involving the Hawks, Interpol, SAPS Crime Intelligence and international agencies.
Five were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport while allegedly preparing to board flights out. They were identified as:
Weight Mudhanyane, 23, Javangwe Munyaradzi, 41, Wesley Sothole, 24, Abel Muchenje, 40, and Knowledge Ndunduma, 46.
The other four were arrested at a hotel in Bruma, east of Johannesburg. They are:
Bobo Chinhondo, 43, Batsirai Shereni, 24, Liberty Shereni, 44, and Niobe Zhou, 37.
All nine appeared in two different courts on Monday, November 9. The five airport group appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court and the hotel group appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court. Both cases were postponed to allow them to find lawyers. All remain in custody.
Leon, now the 10th man, appeared before the same Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, November 11, just 48 hours later.
All 10 are facing the same charge.
They are charged under South Africa’s Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 15 of 1998.
This is South Africa’s anti-mercenary law. The law makes it illegal for anyone in South Africa – whether South African or a foreigner living in South Africa – to:
1. Offer military assistance, training or to fight for any foreign government, army or armed group
2. Be recruited to become a mercenary
3. Leave South Africa to join a foreign war
Anyone who breaks this law can be prosecuted, and if convicted, faces jail time.
Authorities have not said whether the men wanted to fight for Russia or Ukraine, but police say they were preparing to board flights to Russia and their recruitment is linked to growing networks luring Africans with promises of lucrative jobs, signing bonuses of up to $30,000 and monthly salaries of $2,700, only to end up on the frontline.
The Zimbabwean government has warned that these are human trafficking syndicates, noting that in March 2026, Zimbabwe confirmed 15 of its nationals had already died in the war while 66 were still trapped in Russia.
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