SANDF probes forced evictions and damages
ALLEGATIONS of damage to property and illegal evictions are being investigated by the SA National Defence Force after three families were forcefully removed from their homes at the Forest Hill army base.
Dramatic scenes erupted on Friday when armed soldiers dumped the contents of a house on the doorstep of Port Elizabeth’s City Hall while another family had their possessions left on the side of the road in Forest Hill.
Following a scuffle between the armed SANDF members and municipal officials, an urgent court order was granted to have Alta Smit’s belongings returned to her home.
“They [SANDF members] were armed and arrogant, intimidating me and my children,” Smit said about the early morning eviction.
Her items were returned to her home yesterday after initially being removed on Saturday and stored on the back of four military trucks under an awning on the base.
“Everything has been placed on heaps. There is nowhere to move . . . even the fridge is standing in the middle of the lounge with rotten food in it,” Smit said.
SANDF national spokesman Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga said allegations of misconduct were being verified.
Mabanga denied claims that Smit had special permission to stay on the stateowned property as she was not a member of the SANDF.
Smit and her two children have been staying on the base for 17 years.
Her former husband works for the military, but does not live on the base anymore.
“I am not being spiteful staying there. I don’t know what else to do,” she said.
“I pay the rent every month and the military receives it every month.”
By lunchtime yesterday, Smit had returned to the house with her legal representatives.
Smit does not know why her belongings were taken to the square at City Hall.
Mabanga said all allegations were being investigated, but it seemed that the members involved were acting on orders.
Smit said she felt too scared to stay in the house.
Her lawyer, Jerome Hicken, said workers would be cleaning the house today.