Sonja Ntuli, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, “reviewed all available evidence and the representations made on behalf of the accused,” adding that upon consideration, the decision was made to withdraw the charges against them.

The NPA said that it had “coordinated with its criminal justice partners,” and announced that the 95 Libyans will be in the custody the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Moreover, the department will facilitate the deportation process of the accused.

The Department of Home Affairs welcomed the court decision, announcing that the next step would be deportation. Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber instructed his department “to proceed with speed,” ensuring legal processes are adhered to, so the deportations may be “conducted swiftly.”

DHA officials have gone to court to secure confirmations for the deportation from the Magistrate. Logistics are being finalised for the deportation, with the DHA noting it “stands ready to send the group back to their home country.”

Dr Schreiber noted the DHA “will not hesitate to act decisively to ensure that anyone who breaches the immigration laws of the country is processed through the courts and accordingly faces the consequences.” He added further that “respect for the rule of law is sacrosanct.”

The Libyans applied to be deported to Benghazi should their representations be successful. The men had been charged with misrepresentations in their visa applications in that they claimed they were coming into South Aafrica to train as security guards.

With the deportation of the Libyan nationals, the focus is now on the owners of the training camp, Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS). On 07 August, the Private Security industry Regulatory Authority (PRiSA) announced it had suspended MDSS’ license and had ordered the owners to cease operations on 21 July, prior to the raid by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on 26 July.

The South African Police Service Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI) continue to conduct investigations “against the planners, organisers and financiers of the military training camp.” The NPA is working closely with DPCI to ensure that the alleged criminals “are brought to justice.”

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During a media briefing on Wednesday 7 August, PSiRA CEO Manabela Chauke provided an update on the on-going investigation into the illegal military training camp in Mpumalanga where 95 Libyan nationals were arrested last month.

Chauke sought to reassure the public that PSiRA’s priority remains “the safeguarding of our citizens and upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism within the private security industry.”

PSiRA first became aware of the allegations against the camp on 18 July 2024, after being informed by the South African Police Service. On 19 July, the PSiRA Law Enforcement Team Was directed to investigate the facility. On 21 July, PSiRA issued a directive to “cease training operations” to the camp, with immediate effect. The owners of the facility responded on 23 July, confirming the cessation of training, and offered to cooperate with the investigation. Constant surveillance was maintained from 19 July, until arrests were carried out on 26 July.

The scope of PSiRA’s investigation into Milites Dei Security Services was focused on the training provided to the 95 Libyan nationals, along with the accreditation of the training camp, the training programme and the training infrastructure at the site. Chauke revealed that the illegal military training camp that was discovered was not the same facility that PSiRA had previously accredited. Located 7.5 km from the accredited facility, is the separate facility. This separate facility was determined to be for illegal military training, due to the presence of fortified trenches, something Chauke noted was not required for security training.

PSiRA confirmed that MDSS was registered and accredited to train security personnel in Security Grades E to C, which could typically take 4 weeks to complete collectively. However, the training provided to the Libyan nationals was of a longer duration and included extensive physical activities with military style structure. The training instructors went as far as to use military ranks. These training instructors were not accredited through PSiRA, and when asked, Chauke revealed they were Libyan nationals, part of the 95 that were apprehended.

Some of the preliminary findings disclosed during the briefing include that no local security grade training was offered, and the training standard was deemed foreign and adopted from other countries. There was a clear contravention of immigration law by both the facility owners and the Libyan nationals. Further, there was no authorisation or exemption granted to MDSS by the National Regulator for Conventional Arms Control (NRCAC), which puts the camp in contravention of the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.

The activities of MDSS, its owners and the personnel at the camp were “in violation of various criminal statutes,” therefore PSiRA indicated the next step in the investigation is the consideration of charges and formal prosecution against those involved.

PSiRA confirmed that as of 6 August 2024, MDSS and its directors were “served with notices of suspensions.”

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Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leader and Correctional Services Minister in the GNU (Government of National Unity), Pieter Groenewald, maintains the arrests at the Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS) facility in White River again shows “government ignorance”.

The White River arrests, the former Commando officer said in a statement, follow “several” Parliamentary questions regarding military training offered by private security companies to foreign groups in the Eastern Cape province. “Each question was met with a negative answer,” he wrote.

Read the full story on defenceWeb here.

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Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, welcomed the arrest of the Libyan nationals, who reportedly entered the country with visas acquired through misrepresentation in Tunis, Tunisia.

“Following a major joint operation by Home Affairs, [the] South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement authorities, the department is on the ground ensuring that anyone who breached immigration laws is processed through the court. Respect our laws, or there will be consequences,” said the Minister in a statement on Saturday.

The Minister stated the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) had already cancelled the irregularly acquired visas and is working with law enforcement to determine the next steps, including the possibility of deportation. The cancellation of the visas leaves the affected Libyans as “undocumented foreign nationals.”

National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, welcomed the arrests and results of the operation, and sought to reassure citizens, saying the SAPS will ensure a thorough investigation is carried out.

“When a team led by SAPS detectives arrived at the farm, they found the Libyans housed in military tents. Military training equipment was also found including licensed firearms. SAPS detectives cannot rule out the possibility that the farm that is accredited as a security training site is allegedly being utilised as an illegal military training camp,” said the SAPS.

“During the takedown operation, police also found dagga and cocaine. Some of the other drugs found in their possession are being sent to the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria to identify them as illegal substances,” said Masemola.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu conducted a site visit on Saturday, accompanied by Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale and General Masemola. In a statement on X, Minister Mchunu said, “Thorough investigations by various law enforcement agencies are underway.” In a separate post on Facebook, the Minister noted “The illegal military training base discovered in White River in Mpumalanga had elaborate structures, similar to what one would find at a legitimate military training camp.”

SAPS has stated that although the facility was originally designated as a training facility, it had been converted illegally into a military training base.

The facility is registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) as Security Services by Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS), but is also known as Milites Dei Academy.

PSiRA said it had instructed MDSS to immediately cease all training activities and had deployed its inspectorate to inspect the premises to ensure compliance.

The Milites Dei website notes the company specialises in “military training style learning programmes” and provides courses ranging from “army basic training” to “special forces training style learning programmes.” The website lists the “three months specialist operative” course as their “most popular.”

Daily Maverick reported that the Libyan nationals were “on the payroll of eastern Libyan military strongman General Khalifa Haftar.” It was noted they were sent to the camp due to the academy’s reluctance to conduct training in Libya. This is likely due to a recent discovery of an Irish security firm having provided training in Libya, and act in violation of the UN arms embargo against Libya.

The Libyan nationals are due in court today (Monday 29 July) to face charges relating to the contravention of the Immigration Act.

This is a developing story.

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In a statement on Friday, the SAPS said the operation was carried out in conjunction with the ProvJOINT structure, including the Department of Home Affairs and other role players like Police Intelligence.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, convened the Provincial Joint Structures (ProvJOINTS) two days ago after receiving intelligence information about the suspected camp, which led to a raid on Friday 26 July and subsequent arrests.

Read the full story on defenceWeb here.

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