By Alicia Mmashakana
Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode has revealed that despite the fact that a study visa typically takes eight weeks to process, a Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) officer authorised the visa applications for the 95 Libyans in three days.
According to Makhode, the Dirco official confirmed that 95 visas had been issued to Libyan nationals to train at the academy in White River, Mpumalanga. When asked verbally, the official also admitted that she did not consult, seek advice, or obtain any authorisation from the Department of Home Affairs.
Makhode said their preliminary investigation found a lot of irregularities in the issuance of the visas, with some – which were valid until December – handwritten because the departmental system was offline.
The Libyans made news headlines after they were found undergoing military training in Mpumalanga. They were arrested but the State withdrew charges of Contravening the
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