Mystery deepens over training camp

MDSS: CALL TO REFRAIN FROM HEAVY-HANDEDNESS

- Brian Sokutu

‘There’s a thin line between military and security training.’

While Police Minister Mchunu maintained Senzo has the Mpumalanga based Milites Dei Security Services (MDSS) vestigation currently under inconducted military exercises under the guise of security training, an expert yesterday cautioned against heavy-handedness in dealing with the MDSS which, he said, could be legally compliant.

Considering the nature of training offered by the MDSS, there was a thin line between military and security, said Institute for Security Studies (ISS) senior researcher Willem Els, adding South Africa had several such institutions operating legally in the country.

With police having arrested 95 Libyan citizens undergoing paramilitary and security training by the MDSS in White River, Els warned the SA Police Service should avoid finding itself liable for millions in a lawsuit, should its case prove to be weak.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has revoked visas granted to the Libyan group by the department, it claimed was obtained with "misrepresentations" in Tunisia - rendering the Libyans' stay in South Africa illegal.