By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The 95 Libyans arrested at a suspected military training base in White River, Mpumalanga have left South Africa from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on Sunday on a flight that has been paid for by the Libyan government.
This was confirmed by the Department of Home Affairs after it has concluded its preparation to deport the Libyans.
Home Affairs minister Dr Leon Schreiber commended 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, “he said.
Their legal representative, Nico du Plessis said, “Our clients are very happy and thank you to Home Affairs for assisting them to get back,” he said.
The Libyans appeared in the white Rivers magistrates court for the third time on Thursday, and the director of public prosecutions told the court that the charges against them were dropped.
They were apprehended in July during a police raid on a training camp in White River, a holiday town in Mpumalanga, where they were receiving military training.
According to police, the camp housed military training equipment and drugs.
The Libyans who entered South Africa in April on study permits to become security guards were charged with violating the country’s immigration laws.
The Home Affairs cancelled their visas in July, saying they obtained them irregularly in Tunisia through misrepresentation.
The incident has also highlighted regulatory failures, with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority admitting that it only learnt of the illegal training on July 8 despite authorities having had intelligence about the Libyans’ arrival in April.