Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, has welcomed the arrest of 95 Libyan nationals who are alleged to have been receiving training at an illegal military training camp in White River, Mpumalanga.
The Libyan nationals allegedly entered the country with visas that were acquired through misrepresentation in Tunis, Tunisia.
“One operation at a time, we must restore the rule of law. 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 said that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has already cancelled the irregularly acquired visas and is working with other law enforcement authorities to look at all options, including deportation.
The visa cancellation means that all the affected Libyans are now undocumented foreign nationals.
Schreiber has instructed the department to provide full support to this multidisciplinary effort.
This as as the National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola assured the nation that the SAPS will ensure a thorough investigation into allegations that the Libyan nationals were allegedly receiving military training at the site.
General Masemola welcomed the intelligence driven operation that led to the takedown operation on Thursday morning by a multidisciplinary team including detectives and specialised units within the SAPS.
A team of detectives is investigating alleged suspicious activities that are taking place at the farm in White River.
“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 which is working closely with the DHA on the case.
General Masemola said the police will leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of what kind of activities have been taking place on the farm.
“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,” he said.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu conducted a walkabout of the site on Saturday.
“Thorough investigations by various law enforcement agencies are underway,” he said in post on social media platform, X.
Masemola said the safety and security of citizens is of paramount importance and that the SAPS remains committed to dealing decisively with transnational organised crime.