South Africa has a law from 1998 that stops its citizens from helping foreign armies without permission. Recently, five people were caught trying to leave the country with plans to work for a foreign army, showing this old law is still active. This law was first used against Mark Thatcher, the son of a British prime minister, for funding a coup. Now, recruiters use social media and tricky methods to send South Africans to fight in other countries’ wars. This old law, with its big fines and jail time, is now facing a new challenge as it’s being used against people connected to powerful families.
