This is according to Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who was answering a parliamentary question by ActionSA’s Athol Trollip. Ntshavheni explained that the SSA played an advisory role to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), and continues to do so.

Additionally, the Minister revealed the SSA is working with the Border Management Agency (BMA) and Police to improve biometric controls and border security.

While investigations into how the military training was facilitated remain active, authorities have yet to identify which entities or individuals were responsible for organizing the training, which was conducted by Milites Dei Academy in White River, Mpumalanga. The outcome of these investigations will determine accountability once all relevant details are confirmed, Ntshavenhi added.

Another point of contention in the case was the decision to deport the Libyan nationals without trial. Ntshavheni reiterated the decision to allow their deportation was made by the courts, not the SSA. This raised concerns about the broader implications of such deportations, particularly in relation to accountability. Trollip questioned whether the deportation was an attempt to avoid a legal trial and prevent the individuals from facing questions about the nature of their training.

The Minister clarified the SSA’s role in matter was limited to an advisory position, focused on border security and visa management, emphasising investigations are still ongoing to uncover the full scope of the training programme.

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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.

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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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