Military Bases vs. Homes: Simelane's Plan Must Put Our People First
Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane has confirmed that her department is pursuing an interdepartmental plan to address informal settlements that have encroached on military bases across South Africa. The announcement, made in response to parliamentary questions from IFP MP Alco Ngobese, comes after reports last year that informal settlements now occupy land at 10 military bases, creating serious challenges for national security and the safety of both soldiers and civilians.
For decades, our people have been pushed to the margins of this economy, forced to build their lives on whatever land they could find. The legacy of apartheid spatial planning remains etched into our cities and towns. Now, the state says these communities must move again. The question is not whether they will be relocated, but where and how. The minister's response raises as many concerns as it answers.
Which military bases are affected by informal settlements?
The affected bases span four provinces. In the Western Cape, the Tamboerskloof and Wingfield Naval Stores Depot are affected. The Northern Cape has encroachment at the 93 Ammunition Depot and the Combat Training Centre. In Gauteng, the list includes the Defence Works Training School, Marievale Military Base, Lenz Military Base, Defence Headquarters, Wallmansthal, and 43 SA Brigade.
These are not abstract locations. These are communities with names, with histories, with people who have built homes and lives on land that the state has left unused or poorly monitored for years.
What is the government's coordinated plan?
Simelane stated that an interdepartmental working group will be established to address the issue in consultation with participating institutions. The departments involved include Human Settlements, Defence and Military Veterans, Public Works and Infrastructure, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Land Reform and Rural Development, and Agriculture, alongside relevant provincial departments and municipalities.
“The department is pursuing a coordinated intergovernmental approach involving the relevant national departments, provincial and municipal authorities and, where appropriate, entities such as the Housing Development Agency. This includes identifying affected areas, determining the extent of occupation and assessing appropriate interventions,” she said.
This sounds orderly on paper. But our people have heard promises before. The critical test will be whether this working group moves with urgency and with genuine consultation, not top-down directives that treat residents as obstacles rather than citizens with rights.
How many households need relocation?
The minister admitted that a consolidated number of households requiring relocation has not yet been established. She said the number will be confirmed through assessments undertaken with the relevant land-owning departments, provinces, and municipalities.
We cannot accept this vagueness. Every day without a clear count is a day of uncertainty for families who need to know whether they will have a roof over their heads next month, let alone next year.
Will there be dedicated funding for relocation?
Here is the most troubling part of the minister's response. Simelane stated clearly: “The department has not allocated dedicated funding for the relocation and rehousing of communities affected by informal settlement encroachment on military bases.”
Instead, funding requirements will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with interventions potentially supported through existing human settlements programmes, subject to criteria, legislative requirements, planning approvals, land availability, and budgetary provisions.
This is not a plan. This is a hope. Our people deserve more than hope. They deserve commitment backed by resources.
What measures will prevent future encroachment?
Simelane outlined several measures to prevent further encroachment on military bases and other strategic state-owned land. These include strengthening municipal land-use management, planning, and development control; community awareness and stakeholder engagement; and identifying, mapping, and monitoring areas at risk of unlawful occupation.
Prevention is necessary, but it cannot be the entire strategy. The state must also ask a deeper question: why are our people forced to occupy military land in the first place? The answer lies in the housing backlog, in unemployment, in an economy that continues to exclude the majority. Until we address those root causes, we will be playing a game of whack-a-mole with informal settlements.
What happens next for affected communities?
Simelane said her department will prioritise the identification and assessment of affected areas and thereafter develop appropriate interventions with the relevant institutions. She emphasised that interventions will balance the provision of sustainable human settlements with the protection of military land and the operational and national security requirements of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans.
Basic services at alternative sites will be addressed as part of the planning and development process, in consultation with relevant municipalities and subject to infrastructure and funding availability.
We will be watching closely. The people of Tamboerskloof, of Marievale, of Lenz, of Wallmansthal, and of every affected community deserve to be treated with dignity. They deserve housing that is not just a plot of land, but a home with services, with schools nearby, with transport links. They deserve to be part of the solution, not subjects of it.
Frequently asked questions about the military base relocation plan
Why are informal settlements on military bases a problem?
Informal settlements on military bases pose challenges to national security, operational readiness, and the safety of both military personnel and civilians. The state has identified 10 affected bases across the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Gauteng.
Will residents be consulted before relocation?
The minister indicated that interventions will be developed in consultation with relevant authorities, including provinces and municipalities. However, the extent of direct community consultation remains unclear and will be a key point of scrutiny as the interdepartmental working group proceeds.
Is there money set aside for this relocation?
No. The department has not allocated dedicated funding for the relocation and rehousing of communities affected by informal settlement encroachment on military bases. Funding will be assessed on a case-by-case basis through existing human settlements programmes.