AUTHORITIES detained more than 21_000 South Africans along with foreigners at a detention centre between 1996 and 1999 because they believed they were illegal immigrants, parliament was told on Thursday. The 21_719 South Africans were released from the Lindela repatriation centre near Pretoria after being held for up to five days, the report said. The auditor general also found that some illegal immigrants were detained for up to 157 days, four months longer that the maximum 30 days stipulated by law. Out of a total of 12_438 people repatriated to Mozambique from the detention centre between April and September 1999, 4_911 were no longer aboard the trains when they reach the Lebombo border post, the report added.- AFP