Those attempting to downplay the situation argue that the company which conducts the training, Milites Dei Academy specialises in military training and thus its activities could not have been hidden to the state.Â
The academy is accredited by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA).Â
However, there are questions raised about whether the activities of this group had been approved by PSIRA.Â
Police minister Senzo Mchunu said they were not, which in itself must compel the regulator to account for its processes.Â
In a statement on Saturday, the department said they had already cancelled the irregularly acquired visas and were working with other law enforcement authorities to possibly deport the group.Â
Furthermore, the first lapse here raises questions that must be answered by the individuals themselves, as well as the academy which hosted them.Â
That is the misrepresentation on their visa applications.Â
As a host and presumably, co-applicant in their visa requests, it is highly improbable that the academy was not aware that the type of information they presented in their visa applications was incompatible with their planned activities in the country.Â
For this, Milites Dei Academy must account.Â
Military training of any kind must be taken seriously by a sovereign country because of potential threats to domestic security and global relations.Â
Whether such threats are real or perceived is immaterial.
Sowetan
www.sowetanlive.co.za