By Phenyo Selinda
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn charges against 95 Libyans who were arrested at a suspected military camp in Mpumalanga last month. The 95 individuals were facing charges of contraventions of the Immigration Act.
According to the NPA, the decision to withdraw the charges was made by “The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Sonja Ntuli,” after she “reviewed all available evidence and the representations made on behalf of the accused.” Ntuli, in her assessment, considered both the evidence and broader policy implications before deciding to withdraw the charges against all the accused, who had been arrested at the military training camp in July 2024.
The charges initially levelled against these individuals revolved around “alleged misrepresentations made by the accused in their applications for study visas.” However, it appears that there were other more serious allegations that needed further investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
In a statement released on Thursday, the NPA clarified that the decision to drop the charges does not mean that the matter is closed. Instead, “Other matters, according to the prosecutorial body, will be ‘dealt with administratively in terms of the Immigration Act and its Regulations by the Department of Home Affairs officials.’”
The NPA also highlighted the ongoing investigations by the SAPS, particularly the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), into the individuals behind the military training camp. The NPA stated, “Importantly, the SAPS (Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations) are proceeding with investigations against the planners, organisers and financiers of the military training camp.” The NPA is closely collaborating with DPCI to ensure that those responsible for orchestrating the camp are brought to justice.
Moreover, the NPA has ensured that the 95 accused will remain in custody under the supervision of the Department of Home Affairs. The NPA concluded its statement by confirming that “the 95 accused will be under the custody of the Department of Home Affairs that will facilitate the deportation process.”
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