Durban — In an effort to separate genuine business people from disruptive business forums, known as the construction mafia, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and his KwaZulu-Natal counterpart MEC Martin Meyer will hold a summit on the matter.
The two have jointly agreed that an urgent meeting with all the respective MECs in all provinces and the ministers in the Law Enforcement cluster be held in KwaZulu-Natal to develop a decisive response to the construction mafia across the country.
The two recently met where Meyer provided the minister with a report on how the construction mafia problem has resurfaced in the province.
The meeting was prompted by an incident last Wednesday where a group of people stormed a R109 million construction site in Pietermaritzburg and demanded work from the main contractor.
In a statement issued by Macpherson on Friday, he said that shortly after he was appointed as Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, he vowed to deal decisively with the construction mafia and to restore the rule of law at construction sites across the country.
The minister said that during a recent oversight visit to the uMkhomazi water project, he learnt how an altercation with the construction mafia led to the death of three people and the assault of another, saying this is simply unacceptable.
The minister said his department will never be able to attract additional infrastructure investment and turn the country into a construction site, while this lawlessness continues.
“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 cluster to develop a comprehensive plan to turn the tide against the construction mafia.
“This is to not only attract additional infrastructure investment but also to protect the lives of our people.
“KwaZulu-Natal is a province of such immense potential, and I therefore look forward to working closely with the MEC to unlock economic growth and job creation in the province.
“I will be meeting MECs in other provinces and mayors in the week ahead to see how we can work together to improve the lives of our people.
“It is only through working together towards a common vision that we can unlock South Africa’s potential,” said Macpherson.
Disruption of construction sites by the violent forums demanding a 30% slice in the projects started in 2014 and has persisted in spite of the government’s crackdown and police establishing a special task team to deal with it.
WhatsApp your views on this story to 071 485 7995.
Daily News