SANDF tree stump saga raises eyebrows over misuse of taxpayers' money

It sounds like a line from a comedy skit. "The neighbours are complaining, send the army truck to get those tree stumps off my property!”

But far from being a scene from a sitcom, it's a true story, as reported in the City Press by Senior Investigative Reporter Erika Gibson.

A South African National Defence Force (SANDF) crane truck reportedly travelled over 1,200 kilometres, from Oudtshoorn to Pretoria. It's task? To remove two tree stumps from the yard of Major-General Edward Mulaudzi.

Gibson says it raises serious questions about the use of state resources and accountability within the defence force.

"The defence force doesn't only have one truck; there are defence force units in the Pretoria region who have a variety of similar crane trucks to do the same."

Gibson says the driver of the truck was told to turn around and drive to Pretoria because the tree stumps needed to be removed.

"It was busy with military work, that's why it was in Outdshoorn to start its tasking there," she explains.

"Surely you look at what is your most affordable option at the time, but apparently that wasn't the case here."

And the explanation from the SANDF? A meek one, alleges Gibson, essentially saying that the defence force is responsible for the upkeep of the property in question.

"And as such, it had to comply. But it wouldn't explain whether that was the only option or the most affordable option that they could find at that time."

To listen to Gibson in conversation with 702's Bongani Bingwa, use the audio player below: