The Libyan men have been detained since July 26 when police raided the remote training camp near the town of White River about 360 kilometers (220 miles) east of Johannesburg.
“They are scheduled to leave South Africa from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport this morning in a flight that has been paid for by the Libyan Government,” the home affairs ministry said in a statement.
Police had said the men entered South Africa in April on visas issued for training as security guards.
However, police suspected they were receiving military training.
The government then canceled the visas which were “irregularly acquired” in the Tunisian capital Tunis based on “misrepresentation.”
“I commend the Home Affairs officials and other law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to ensure an expeditious deportation,” the department’s minister Leon Schreiber said in a statement.
Initially, the group had been charged with violating immigration rules. Their case was postponed for further investigation with authorities not ruling out further charges.
But on Thursday the case was dropped by the South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority who cited insufficient evidence.
“We will continue to deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that the country’s immigration laws are respected and observed,” Schreiber said.
South African prosecutors withdrew charges against 95 Libyan nationals who were arrested last month at what police said was an illegal military training camp in Mpumalanga province, officials said Thursday.
Police alleged that the men — who entered the country on study visas — were receiving military training at the camp where firearms and ammunition were recovered during a widely publicized police raid.
During their initial appearances in court, the accused said they were receiving security training at the camp.
There was insufficient evidence to prosecute the men, the country’s National Prosecuting Authority said.
“The only charge that was brought to the NPA was that of the contravention of the immigration act against the 95 Libyan nationals,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.
They were only charged with violating the country’s immigration laws, and their lawyer told reporters after the charges were withdrawn today that they expected them to be deported back to Libya in the next 48 hours.
The men have now been handed over to immigration officials and insisted through their lawyers that they were in South Africa for security training.
“They are very happy that the charges have been withdrawn against them, it is what we expected. I think that matter (alleged military training) is still under investigation, as far as we know we had security training,” said the men’s lawyer, Nico du Plessis.
Police alleged that the men — who entered the country on study visas — were receiving military training at the camp where firearms and ammunition were recovered during a widely publicized police raid.
During their initial appearances in court, the accused said they were receiving security training at the camp.
There was insufficient evidence to prosecute the men, the country’s National Prosecuting Authority said.
“The only charge that was brought to the NPA was that of the contravention of the immigration act against the 95 Libyan nationals,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.
They were only charged with violating the country’s immigration laws, and their lawyer told reporters after the charges were withdrawn today that they expected them to be deported back to Libya in the next 48 hours.
The men have now been handed over to immigration officials and insisted through their lawyers that they were in South Africa for security training.
“They are very happy that the charges have been withdrawn against them, it is what we expected. I think that matter (alleged military training) is still under investigation, as far as we know we had security training,” said the men’s lawyer, Nico du Plessis.
