News24 | Hawks uncover suspected firearm training camp in Limpopo, 'military-related training' not ruled out

A suspected firearm training facility was uncovered in Modimolle, Limpopo. (Supplied/Hawks)

• A suspected firearm training facility was discovered on a farm in Modimolle, Limpopo.
• The Hawks said the purpose of the training was unclear, but military-related training could not be ruled out.
• This comes two weeks after police uncovered a suspected military training base in White River, Mpumalanga.

Police are investigating the possibility that military-related training was being carried out on a farm in Modimolle, Limpopo after the discovery of a cache of firearms and ammunition on the premises on Thursday.

"The purpose of the training is not yet clear, but military-related training cannot be ruled out," said Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa.

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The Hawks, in collaboration with Public Order Police, the Local Criminal Record Centre, and the Tactical Response Team, conducted a sting operation at the farm after receiving a tip-off.

Mmuroa said the team seized several licensed rifles, a pistol, and ammunition.

"The manner in which firearms and ammunition landed at the farm is still under investigation. No one was arrested," Mmuroa added.

The facility was discovered two weeks after police uncovered a suspected military training base in White River, Mpumalanga.

This week, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) found that the military-style camp, where 95 Libyan nationals were receiving training, was operating illegally.

Psira CEO Manabela Chauke said at a media briefing that the owners of Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS) in White River had been served with suspension letters.

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Chauke added that Psira's investigations had led the authority to discover a second training facility located 7.5km from the accredited training facility. He said the training programme and its duration at the second facility were longer than the normal accredited security training.

He added that the training standards had been adopted from other countries.

"The second training facility is the same facility referred to as the illegal Libyan military training camp. Investigations discovered that the authority never accredited the Libyan military training camp," Chauke said.

The 95 Libyan nationals appeared in the White River Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of contravening the Immigration Act and misrepresenting their visa applications.

They allegedly applied for study visas under Section 13 of the Immigration Act and are believed to have been in South Africa since April.

The Department of Home Affairs has since revoked their visas.

They are expected back in court on 26 August.