The government owes the nation more than merely announcing the deportation of the 95 Libyans arrested at a military camp in Mpumalanga.

Concerns arose in July that national security may have been compromised after their secret military camp was discovered and the men arrested.

Three court appearances later, prosecutors dropped charges, saying there was insufficient evidence to prosecute them on claims that they had entered the country under false pretenses.

In court, the men said they were receiving security training. We were told that the possibility of similar camps elsewhere in the country could not be ruled out. Before long, police said military-related training was being carried out on a farm in Modimolle, Limpopo, following the discovery of a cache of firearms and ammunition on the premises.

Early this week, the Department of Home Affairs said that it had concluded its preparations to deport the Libyans, who subsequently left South Africa from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in a flight paid for by the government of Libya.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber is on record as having said: “We will continue to deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that the country’s immigration laws are respected and observed.”

Sorry minister, there are just too many question that remain unanswered here. This matter is not a cut and dried confirmation of nationality, such as that of former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina.

National police commissioner Lieutenant-General Fannie Masemola said the weapons seized at the farm were legal and certified by the training service provider running the facility.

He said nothing about the dagga and cocaine found during the operation.

By charging the suspects with just contravention of immigration laws, our government is basically saying anyone can set up a training camp here and that drug possession and use is allowed, subject to conditions.

It is unthinkable that senior government officials, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, could have abandoned everything and headed to White River merely because a security training camp had been discovered.

The nation deserves the truth to preserve the reputation of our intelligence services.

Cape Times