SAPS Conducts High-Level Investigation on White River Farm Over Alleged Illegal Military Training

In a press statement released this morning, General Fannie Masemola, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), confirmed that a comprehensive investigation has been launched in response to the recent apprehension of 95 Libyan nationals at a farm in White River, Mpumalanga. The arrests were part of an intelligence-driven operation that discovered the individuals housed in military tents and in possession of military training equipment and firearms, raising suspicions of unlawful activities.

The high-profile operation was conducted by a multidisciplinary team, which included detectives and specialized units of the SAPS. Upon the discovery, SAPS detectives initiated a probing inquiry into the possibility that the accredited security training facility was being exploited as an illegal military training ground. This concern was further compounded by the presence of drugs such as dagga and cocaine, indicating a potential link to transnational organized crime.

In light of these events, General Masemola emphasized the commitment of the SAPS to undertake diligent and exhaustive efforts to unveil the full scope of activities conducted on the property. He reassured the nation of his confidence in the capabilities of the investigative team to uncover pertinent facts and details. Gen Masemola made a clarion call for calm, promising that the police will be meticulous in their pursuit of truth and justice, leaving no stone unturned.

Furthermore, the SAPS is actively collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain the legal protocols surrounding the issuance of visas to the detained Libyan nationals. This will help determine if there were any breaches in the immigration process or other regulations. Additionally, the drug findings have led to further examinations by the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria to confirm the presence of any illegal substances.

This incident is of considerable importance as it touches on the security and well-being of South African citizens, while also implicating issues of international relations and crime. General Masemola's statement concluded with a stern declaration of the SAPS's unyielding stance against transnational organized crime and the assurance of efforts to safeguard the security of the nation.