Department of Defence implements measures to combat illegal encroachment on military bases

The Department of Defence is prioritising perimeter fencing projects, legal processes, and strengthening security to address illegal encroachment on its territory.

The department has expressed concern about illegal settlements encroaching on military bases.

The encroachment of these settlements poses serious challenges to national security, operational readiness, and the safety of both military personnel and civilians. The department has previously warned about these risks.

Recently, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga revealed a series of measures aimed at protecting the security and operational readiness of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

Reports  three months ago highlighted the encroachment of informal settlements on 10 key military bases located in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Gauteng.

So serious is the matter that military bases experience continuous theft of vehicle parts, electric cables, office equipment, and other items, as well as illegal electricity connections and water supply being rerouted by illegal connections.

The state of affairs prompted ANC MP Windy Plaatjies to enquire from Motshekga about the measures the Department of Defence has implemented to address the challenge of informal settlements developing on or near SANDF military bases.

In her response, Motshekga said there was a wide range of measures that included prioritising perimeter fencing projects, legal processes, strengthening security, and forming task teams that will involve affected communities and inter-departmental groups to address encroachment challenges.

She said beyond the individual cases at each military base, her department has pursued a multi-pronged strategy to balance security needs with community rights.

Motshekga said the prioritisation of perimeter fencing projects was ongoing depending on budget availability in the current financial year.

“Investment has been made in military police patrols, counter-intelligence support, improved fencing, enhanced lighting, cable protection, and encroachment boundary surveys.”

She also said there were legal processes being followed that included obtaining court orders, planned relocations, and compliance with human rights obligations.

The minister named the Marievale relocation in Gauteng and Tamboerskloof eviction in the Western Cape as the examples.

The department previously told the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans that at the Marievale Military Base, the settlement has been relocated inside the unit boundaries due to the lack of a perimeter fence.

This had led to continuous theft of vehicle parts, electric cables, office equipment, and other items from the military base.

The department also told MPs that undocumented nationals were living inside the unit, and within the unit, one member owned a kraal of goats and cows.

Motshekga said that there was now an inter-departmental working group at the director-general (DG) level, which was tackling the Walmansthall military, where water supply was rerouted by illegal connections to the settlement, as a test case.

The inter-departmental working group, which was meant to meet on July 18, 2025, is scheduled to take place by the end of September.

“The aim is to bring together critical role players on the matter,” she said, adding that the department’s legal division has been tasked to investigate possibilities in law.

It was envisaged that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Department of Human Settlements, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Land Claims Commission, Justice, Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Sanitation, and municipalities.

Motshekga said they will be launching a community-government task team to address encroachment challenges comprehensively in October.

She added that the department was supporting the identification areas for relocation of the informal settlements in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and municipalities for in-situ upgrades and the integration of buffer zones into spatial planning networks.

In an effort to resolve and prevent future encroachment at the bases, coordination with the DPWI has sought to confirm land allocations.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za