South Africa announced plans to deport 95 Libyans detained at a camp under investigation for conducting military-style training against regulations.
The men were apprehended on Friday during a raid in Mpumalanga, a northeastern province bordering Mozambique and Eswatini.
According to police, the Libyans entered South Africa in April using visas for security guard training. However, authorities suspected the men were undergoing military training instead.
The Home Affairs department stated that the visas were “irregularly acquired” in Tunis, Tunisia, through “misrepresentation.”
These visas have since been canceled, and the men now face deportation. “It’s clear to us that their presence here is illegal. We aim to deport them promptly but will adhere to due process,” said national police minister Senzo Mchunu.
A sign at the facility near White River, 360 kilometers (220 miles) east of Johannesburg, described it as an academy for “specialized security training.”
Registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), it seemingly exceeded its brief, offering more military training than security training.
Police commissioner General Fannie Masemola reported that while weapons found were legal, the camp’s activities were predominantly military.
Television footage showed military tents, but the arrested men wore civilian clothes, raising further questions about the nature of their training.