The Department of Home Affairs has concluded the deportation of the 95 Libyans who were arrested in White River, Mpumalanga, last month on suspicion of receiving military training at an illegal military camp.
Accused of violating the Immigration Act after misrepresenting the reason for their stay in South Africa, charges were subsequently dropped against the accused.
The Libyan nationals left South Africa from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on the morning of Sunday, 18 August 2024, on a flight paid for by the Libyan Government. It was reported that 89 flew out on a CemAir aircraft to Libya, and six were due out on a flight from OR Tambo International as the CemAir aircraft can only carry 90 people.
It is not clear whether the payment was made by the Eastern Libyan Government, based in Tobruk, or the UN recognised Government of National Unity, based in Tripoli.
Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, welcomed the swift conclusion of the deportation.
“I commend the Home Affairs officials and other law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to ensure an expeditious deportation. We will continue to deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that the country’s immigration laws are respected and observed,” said Minister Schreiber.
The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) previously indicated that they became aware of the camp a month ago, on 19 July, and issued an order to cease operations on 21 July. The South African Police Service (SAPS) raided the camp on 26 July, and discovered military infrastructure, and small amounts of cocaine and cannabis. PSiRA announced on 07 August that the license of the camp, owned by Milites Dei Security Services, had been suspended.
With the Libyans now gone, it is unclear how the investigation will proceed, with SAPS and PSiRA indicating that the investigations are ongoing, with focus now on the camps’ owners.