Durban — Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says further investigations had found a purported security training camp in White River, Mpumalanga – where 95 Libyans were arrested on Friday – was in fact “military” in nature.
Mchunu said on Saturday that when the application was made to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority for the site to become an accredited security training facility, it met those requirements.
“It is not compliant now. There is a gap between what was applied for and what was here. All indicators point to a military camp, which is a concern.”
Mchunu confirmed the Libyans were in the country illegally and they were working on having them deported as soon as possible.
He said the men were in custody and due process would be followed.
General Fannie Masemola said: “All the weapons found at site were legal.”
The Libyan government released a statement which condemned all acts that threatened the peace and sovereignty of its neighbours and other countries it was on friendly terms with.
Tripoli pledged to give its counterparts full support in investigations that would uncover whether the men were genuinely there for advanced security training.
Libya’s government has tasked local delegates to “communicate with the relevant authorities in Johannesburg to follow up on the circumstances of this case, stressing our readiness to participate in the investigations to uncover its circumstances and the parties behind it”, it said.
“We affirm that such cross-border interventions, for which the Libyan people have paid the price of their security, strength and stability, have been overcome by our country, thanks to God, a long time ago. We also denounce the involvement of the sons of the country in such acts, and we will follow up with South Africa all investigations related to this incident,” read the statement.
It is believed the men entered the country in April.
The SAPS’ spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said the men allegedly misrepresented themselves on their visa applications, claiming they were to be trained as security guards, but local police “suspect they are receiving military training”.
Therefore, they were arrested for contravening the immigration act.
The raid on the camp with many green military-style tents was launched after authorities received intelligence about the site.
Mpumalanga’s safety and security minister, Jackie Macie, said they were following up on information about other, similar camps in the area.
South Africa’s porous borders and high corruption rate and criminality have made it fertile ground for criminal syndicates, experts believe.
Another concern is that the country may be a base for jihadist financing in Africa.
Dorcas Ettang, an associate professor with the International Centre of Nonviolence at the Durban University of Technology, said while investigations were ongoing, it was still not clear what company the men were affiliated with and the government of Libya made it clear the group was not affiliated with it.
To prevent fake news and anti-foreigner rhetoric, Ettang said proper intelligence and evidence should be gathered before making conclusions.
“One can argue that terrorist groups, as well as other clandestine groups, look for locations and sites that are easily penetrable and countries that create a space for them to carry out their illicit activities and where there is a market for them,” said Ettang.
She said porous and weak borders were a major challenge on the continent.
Sunday Tribune