‘Informal settlements encroaching military bases are security threat’
Settlements can also obstruct military vehicles from responding to attacks.
According to Dakota Legoete, chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, informal settlements encroaching on military bases present a significant national security concern. He highlights that roughly 15 out of the country’s 438 military bases are directly impacted by these settlements. Legoete warns that these settlements can obstruct military vehicles from responding to attacks, and some bases even house ammunition depots.
He urges the formation of an interdepartmental task team to relocate the affected communities and provide them with alternative housing and essential services.
Legoete explains that some military bases are registered as assets and properties of the Public Works Department. This means that even if the National Defence Force needs to take legal action against those encroaching on the bases, they lack the authority as they are not the property owners. Consequently, his committee proposed the formation of the interdepartmental working group 15 months ago to address the issue.
He also points out that the people encroaching on military bases might not be South African citizens, making it difficult to accuse them without a court order. Doing so could result in accusations of human rights abuse if the defense force uses force to remove them.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
