The South African Police Service (SAPS) has taken significant steps to deal with construction mafia through a coordinated and multi-disciplinary response to criminal activities.
“Investigative capacity has been established to address extortion and violence at construction sites across the country, with a particular focus on KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and other areas where similar problems have been reported,” said Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
The Deputy President was engaging Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly on matters related to his delegated responsibilities.
In March this year, the Deputy President addressed the Criminal Justice System Review Conference where, amongst other important matters, criminality in the construction sector was highlighted.
“When delivering the keynote address, I stated the following: ‘Murderous construction mafia have brought many companies to their knees, and we must fight back to safeguard this industry’.”
Mashatile believes that a concerted effort from all is necessary to unravel the complex web of construction site disruptions, which endanger lives and impede government’s objectives of transforming the nation into a massive construction site that generates employment and expands the economy.
He told MPs that the police have partnered with various stakeholders, including State-owned entities (SOEs), government departments, private security companies and civil society to enhance their efforts in combating these criminal networks.
Mashatile reiterated government’s, commitment to addressing this challenge through the introduction of policies that will curtail and eliminate mafia in the construction sector.
These include the National Infrastructure Plan, the Critical Infrastructure Programme, the Social Facilitation Programme, and the Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum.
The Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum (IBACF), the Deputy President said, was another intervention that is yielding positive results in stopping criminal activities by the so-called “construction mafia”.
He explained that the IBACF was formed in 2020 and is aimed at monitoring infrastructure projects and putting systems in place to detect and prevent corruption.
The forum comprises civil society, representatives from the built environment, and various arms of government, including the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
In addition, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, through the application of the Social Facilitation Concept which was approved by Cabinet in 2021 is conducting pilot projects like the Salvokop Precinct Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP), which serves as a test case for integrating social facilitation into construction practices.
He explained that lessons learned will help further calibrate the framework.
“Given all the interventions I have outlined above, the challenge remains that the actual number of crimes committed by these mafias may be underreported, as witnesses and victims are often reluctant to come forward.
“It is crucial for communities, organisations, and businesses to work together with the South African Police Service to bring these criminals to justice.”
Meanwhile, he said top-class detective and crime intelligence work must be intensified to produce airtight prosecutions and see these crime bosses evicted, locked up and their proceeds of crime seized.
“The impact of these construction mafia on our nation’s development cannot be underestimated. The existence and activities of construction mafia significantly undermine the concept of a developmental State, as envisioned in the National Development Plan 2030.”
The Deputy President told Parliamentarians that these criminal organisations pose serious threats to public safety and the integrity of construction projects, which are essential for driving economic growth and development.
“As government, at all levels, we are committed to addressing this issue through independent investigations and partnerships with organisations like Business Against Crime South Africa, but most importantly with civil society organisations who live around and know these criminals.
“Let us stand together in the fight against these criminal organisations and work towards a safer and more prosperous South Africa for all living in it.”
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