South African police on Friday arrested 95 Libyans after raiding a suspected secret military training camp and authorities said they were investigating whether similar illegal bases existed in other parts of the country.
Police said the camp was found on a farm in White River in Mpumalanga province, about 360 kilometres (220 miles) northeast of Johannesburg.
National police spokeswoman Ethlenda Maathe said in a post on the social media site X that the Libyans had reported they had come to the country on study visas to train as security guards, but police investigations revealed they had received military training.
The Newsroom Africa TV news channel broadcast images of the site of the arrests, showing a military-style camp with large green and khaki tents set up in a row. Dozens of people were seen standing in a line when the arrests were made. They were wearing civilian clothes.
Local government official Jackie Masi said investigations were ongoing and the farm’s owner would be questioned. He said authorities had received information that similar clandestine camps existed near two other towns in Mpumalanga province.
The province borders neighbouring countries Mozambique and Swaziland and is a concern for South African authorities regarding illegal immigration.
Police and authorities have not said whether the camps were suspected to be linked to any particular group or conflict.
Masi said the investigation would determine whether there was a network of camps in South Africa and also “why they are providing military training in our country.”
Police said the men may be linked to crimes in communities near the farm in recent months.
“We have serious cases registered with the police, including cases of rape and armed robbery, which complainants claim were committed by unidentified foreigners, who appear to be of Asian origin,” police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli said.
“What we have found today we take very seriously because we don’t know who was training them, what they were being trained for and why this training is taking place in South Africa. This could pose a threat not only to South Africa but to the entire southern African region.”
Police said the operation to arrest the Libyans and close down the camp began two days ago. Massey said the Libyans had been in the country since at least April.
“The 95 individuals detained are all Libyan nationals and are currently being questioned by the relevant authorities,” Mpumalanga’s acting provincial police commissioner Major General Jeff Mkhwanazi said in a statement.
Police spokesperson Mdhluli said the country’s security regulator had confirmed that the type of training being provided at the camp was outside the scope of training for security guards.
“The kind of equipment we found here shows that there was intense military training here. It was basically a military base.”