The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) director, Manabela Chauke, said they were disappointed that they were not able to pick up that Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS) was conducting an illegal military training camp in White River, Mpumalanga, despite advertisements of their services available on public platforms. 

GOT HEADS UP FROM SAPS

Chauke said on the 18 July 2024, they were informed by SAPS of the allegations that MDSS was conducting military training at the farm. "On the 19th, we redirected our law enforcement team that was deployed in Mpumalanga to investigate the allegations at the farm. On the 21st, we issued MDSS with a directive to cease training operations of the Libyan nationals with immediate effect. MDSS requested an opportunity to consult their legal representatives, and they were granted, "said Chauke.

THEY HAVE BEEN WATCHING THEM

He added that on the 23rd of July, they confirmed the immediate termination of training for the Libyans and proceeded with their investigation. "From 19th July 2024, our team maintained constant surveillance and monitored the activities at the farm until the joint operations, which saw the arrest of the 95 Libyan nationals on the 26th of July 2024," Chauke said, adding that since the investigations progressed, they discovered that MDSS is registered with them and they are accredited to train security grades (E-C) from 2019 as per their records.

THEIR FINDINGS 

Chauke presented findings from their investigations and said the camp where the Libyans were found was not accredited by the authorities. Chauke said, "The duration of the training programs conducted by MDSS takes longer than our local security training programs. The nature of the training included extensive physical activities with military-styled structures. Investigations also uncovered instructors that are not accredited by authority at the facility," Chauke said. He added that based on the work concluded so far, their preliminary findings found that the second training facility where the Libyans were found, is not accredited and therefore illegal. The standards of the training that was offered were foreign or adopted from other countries, and no local security grade training such as E-C grades were offered at the training camp. "Some instructors that offered training were non-South Africans and the design and layout of the infrastructure of the Libyan camp supported a military-style training camp," he added. The investigation also found that there was no authorisation, agreement, or exemption granted to MDSS by the National Regulator for Conventional Arms Control to provide military training to Libyan nationals. Chauke also said that PSIRA has decided to deregister MDSS.The 95 Libyans who were arrested last month appeared in the White River Magistrates Court and their case was postponed to 26 August for further investigations.