95 Libyans who came to train at Mpumalanga military camp got visas in 3 days

CAPE TOWN - The 95 Libyan nationals who came to South Africa to train at a military camp in Mpumalanga received their visas in just three days.

This despite not providing security clearance, medical cover or proof of funds to support themselves in South Africa.

Some didn’t even provide Libyan home addresses.

• Schreiber: Matter of 95 deported Libyans symptoms of a 'crisis that threatens national security interests'

Officials from the departments of International Relations, Home Affairs and State Security are now expected to travel to Tunisia to inspect the documentation firsthand, as part of a multi-pronged probe.

By its own admission, the Home Affairs Department said there were lots of irregularities surrounding the issuing of visas for 100 Libyan nationals to attend the White River training facility.

Director-General Tommy Makhode said a study visa would ordinarily take eight weeks to process but in this case, an International Relations official did much of the decision-making.

"The official confirmed when questioned verbally that she did not consult; two she did not seek any advice, or receive any authorisation from the Department of Home Affairs."

Makhode said that the department had to shoulder some of the blame because it only operated with around 40% of the staff it needed and didn’t have enough resources to deploy officials to all of the country’s 115 foreign missions.

Home Affairs only has a presence at 38 of them.

"There’s no indication on some of the application forms that the applicants were applying for study visas. The indication here is that the official decided to grant the study visa."

Makhode said the visas, which were valid until December, were handwritten because the International Relations Department system was offline.