'Simply unacceptable': Public Works Ministry wants an end to construction mafia

DURBAN - The Public Works and Infrastructure Ministry says that it is working to put a stop to the so-called construction mafia across provinces.

This as extortion groups continue to disrupt government construction projects, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

The illegal collective is known to demand a share of profits from services rendered by contractors and even threaten them to leave sites.

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Minister Dean Mcpherson said that a recent case of extortion claimed lives on the South Coast in KZN.

"During a recent oversight visit to the Umkhomazi Water project, I learnt how an altercation with the construction mafia had led to the death of three people and the assault of another. This is simply unacceptable. We will never be able to attract additional infrastructure investment, and turn the country into a construction site, while this lawlessness continues.”

He said that the department and all its MECs in different provinces must convene a meeting with the police to fix the issues.

"This is why it is imperative to host this important meeting with Public Works MECs across the country and the ministers in the law enforcement and security cluster to develop a comprehensive plan to turn the tide against the construction mafia to not only attract additional infrastructure investment, but protect the lives of our people.”