SANDF colonel
to appear in court
Alta Smit’s belongings
dumped in front of the Port
Elizabeth City Hall by armed soldiers
Picture: DENEESHA PILLAY
dumped in front of the Port
Elizabeth City Hall by armed soldiers
Picture: DENEESHA PILLAY
The defence force commander who
allegedly gave the order for furniture to be dumped on the doorstep of the City
Hall has given a statement to police and will appear in the Port Elizabeth High
Court today.
According to officials, Forest Hill
military base commanding officer Colonel Veli Phakathi met detectives on
Tuesday and submitted a statement, after allegedly failing to honour several
appointments.
Last week, The Herald’s sister paper Weekend Post revealed he was
dodging the police and had allegedly barred soldiers from speaking to
detectives.
Due to the many failed attempts by
police to meet with Phakathi, a formal letter was sent to the military’s legal
affairs department asking that he meet detectives.
On Saturday, following the Weekend
Post article, cluster detective commanders intervened and took over the case.
Both the criminal probe and court application were instigated after
Alta Smit and two other families were evicted from the base. Smit’s furniture
was dumped at the City Hall.
It has been alleged she was illegally
occupying the property as she does not work for the military.
Since the incident, police have only
obtained one statement from a soldier, who later wanted to retract it,
allegedly due to intimidation by Phakathi.
Today, the Department of Public Works,
Phakathi and Colonel Desire Fouche are to appear in the Port Elizabeth High
Court to explain why they allegedly violated a court order stating that Smit’s
goods be returned in good order to her home.
