Groenewald slams intelligence services for allowing Libyan nationals to undergo military training in SA undetected

CAPE TOWN - Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald has slammed the country’s intelligence services for allowing Libyan nationals to undergo military training in South Africa undetected. 

Groenewald, who is also the correctional services minister, said that the arrest of the 95 men on a farm in Mpumalanga proved that South Africa was being used as a military training ground for foreign groups. 

Groenewald said that all parliamentary questions he’d posed in the past on whether this was the case, particularly using the Eastern Cape, had been denied. 

"We cannot afford that this situation can occur without threatening the integrity of our territory in South Africa."

The 95 Libyans, who appeared in court in White River on Monday, are believed to have gained entry into the country under false pretenses. 

Groenewald said that the situation also did not bode well for South Africa's efforts to remove itself from the Financial Action Task Force’s greylist for failing to take adequate action against money laundering and terrorism financing. 

"It also poses a huge risk for the safety of people and therefore, actions must be taken very quickly and very seriously."