The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) found that the military training camp outside White River in Mpumalanga where 95 Libyan nationals were arrested on July 26 was illegal and not accredited.

Speaking at a press conference at the PSIRA head offices in Centurion yesterday, CEO Manabela Chauke said that while the facility was accredited, the Libyan nationals were at a second facility 7.5km away from the registered one.

PSIRA is tasked with monitoring over 16 000 registered security providers, including those accredited as training providers.

Chauke explained that during PSIRA’s investigation, a second camp was discovered on the same farm where Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS) is located at Peebles Valley between White River and Hazyview.

MDSS was registered as a service provider and training facility. However, yesterday the authority served MDSS with suspension letters.

Investigations found that the illegal training was longer than accredited training programmes and that the standards of training were adopted from other countries.

The design and layout of the infrastructure supported military-style training, and both the owners of MDSS and the Libyan nationals were in contravention of South African laws.

“MDSS, its owners, and its personnel contravened the code of conduct for PSIRA, and [their activities] were in violation of various criminal statutes.

“The training programme was longer than the local training programmes, and the nature of the training programmes included extensive physical activities with military-style structures,” said Chauke.

He confirmed that some of the instructors were also Libyan nationals and used military ranks.

The authority was informed by the SAPS on July 18 that MDSS was suspected to be conducting military training on the farm.

Since July 19, law enforcement maintained constant surveillance and monitoring of the activities on the farm until the arrest of 95 Libyan nationals on July 26.

Chauke said that it would be pursuing cases against them.

The 95 Libyan nationals first appeared in court on July 29, and again on Monday, where the case was postponed until August 26.

They are being held at Mbombela Correctional Services on charges of contravening the Immigration Act.

According to Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, the Libyan nationals came to South Africa on student visas.

Police followed up on a tip-off from community members at Masoyi Village near the facility.

“Further charges may be added pending the outcome of the state’s investigation,” she said.