The arrests were made at the end of the week after a tip-off to police. The men are suspected of violating South African law that prohibits citizens from fighting with a foreign country's army without government permission.
"A preliminary investigation shows that a South African woman is suspected of facilitating the entry and recruitment of these individuals into the military of the Russian Federation," the police wrote in a statement.
Police announced last week that they were investigating allegations that the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, lured 17 South African men to Russia "to fight in the war in Ukraine without their knowledge or consent." Zuma-Sambudla has since resigned as an MP.
According to Ukraine, 1,426 citizens from various African countries have joined the Russian army. International media have also reported that African women are being offered contracts to work in Russia's drone factories.
