A Port Elizabeth mother who was evicted from the Military Base in Forrest Hill on Friday told AlgoaFM News that she has laid a criminal charge against the SANDF at the Humewood Police station and have obtained legal advice.
This follows the dramatic eviction on Friday when about 15 soldiers loaded up all her belongings and dumped it in front of City Hall.
Alta Smit who has a daughter with special needs, had to watch helplessly while soldiers packed all her belongings into black bags and boxes, before loading it on the back of a truck.
Smit whose daughter suffers from cystic fibrosis and type 1 diabetes was literally trapped inside her home as her car was parked in, preventing her from leaving.
On Saturday morning the military was seen picking up the furniture at City Hall after an urgent interdict was granted on Friday.
Smit says she got a call from a Colonel (name is known to Algoa FM NEWS) who informed her that she had 48 hours to move her furniture from the storing facility back to her house.
She says her belongings stood outside in the rain the entire night and she had no idea how she was supposed to move all her furniture herself. Smit says she will not return to her home until her belongings have been returned in an orderly fashion as stated in the interdict.
Smit and her daughter are now staying with friends.
The SANDF confirmed the incident late on Friday night and said an internal investigation will be launched and full co-operation given to the South African police.
The incident got tongues wagging on social media with many expressing their shock and disbelief at what they called a blatant abuse of power.
Police Spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says Smit has laid a charge of malicious damage to property. Acting Municipal Manager Johann Mettler also opened up a case of intimidation and malicious injury/damage to property and security guard who was present outside City Hall on Friday laid a charge of attempted murder.
Photo’s: Supplied
