- 95 Libyan immigrants arrested at an illegal training camp in White River on Friday, 26 July 2024.
- The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has decided to prosecute the suspects in South Africa.
- The camp was discovered due to irregularities in the immigrants’ visas, acquired through misrepresentation.
- The suspects do not currently have legal representation.
The NPA has confirmed that the 95 Libyan nationals apprehended at an illegal training camp in White River on Friday, 26 July 2024, will not be deported.
‘Libyan 95’ will not be deported, NPA announces
Instead, they will face prosecution in South Africa.
The decision to prosecute follows the discovery of the camp, which was found during a joint operation by Mpumalanga SAPS and other law enforcement authorities.
The Libyan nationals were allegedly receiving military training at a facility accredited by the Private Security Regulatory Authority to conduct security training.
However, the presence of makeshift military tents and trenches typically used for military purposes raised suspicions.
The suspects had reportedly entered South Africa with irregular visas obtained through misrepresentation in Tunisia, where they claimed to be on study permits.
The camp’s discovery and subsequent arrests were part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with immigration laws.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has already cancelled the irregularly acquired visas.
While initial plans considered deportation if no criminal activities were linked to the suspects, the NPA’s decision to prosecute them domestically means they will remain in South Africa to face trial.
The suspects currently do not have any legal representation. The case will be enrolled on the criminal court roll, marking the next phase in the legal process.
The SAPS and other law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the full extent of the activities conducted at the camp and any potential links to broader criminal networks.