Seitlholo sounds warning on construction mafia's impact on water projects
Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister Sello Seitlholo warned that the situation could get to the point where no new water or sanitation infrastructure is built.
Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister Sello Seitlholo. Picture: @seitlholo/X
CAPE TOWN - As municipalities battle the ire of consumers who are going without water for weeks, Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister Sello Seitlholo is warning of the impact the construction mafia is having on water infrastructure projects.
At a briefing on Monday on their first month in office, Seithlolo warned that the situation could get to the point where no new water or sanitation infrastructure is built.
He said that the issue had been raised as a point of concern by water boards.
"We've got these so-called SMMEs that are disrupting and distorting money from construction companies all in the name of that particular 30%. There's no upskilling, there's no development so it's a lose-lose situation for government. Government is being held at ransom by people who claim they are SMMEs who must benefit from this 30%."
Seithlolo said that the department would have to engage with the security cluster to try and protect these projects because the situation was also risking the effectiveness of water boards.
"If this particular issue persists, we are going to find ourselves in a position where there are no projects that are completed because we are dealing with mafias who are extorting money from projects which are supposed to be benefiting."