South Africa to deport 95 Libyans arrested at suspected ‘secret military camp'

By Hassan Isilow

South Africa said Saturday it canceled the visas of 95 Libyan nationals who were arrested Friday at a suspected "secret military camp" in White River, a holiday town in the northeastern Mpumalanga province.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said he welcomed the arrests of the Libyans whom he said acquired visas irregularly in Tunisia through misrepresentation.

The Home Affairs Department said the cancelations mean that the 95 are now undocumented foreign nationals and the agency is working with law enforcement to look at options, including deportation.

The Libyans acquired study permits to come to South Africa where they claimed they were coming to study to be security guards.

Police raided the suspected military training camp, acting on intelligence, where they found military training equipment and drugs.

The Libyans are reported to have entered South Africa in April and were scheduled to return in December.