Durban — Newly appointed Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer accepts that a “hard and rocky road” lies ahead, and he’s made the construction mafia scourge one of his priority projects.
Meyer is aware that businesses are opting to invest elsewhere in the country instead of having their operations hijacked in KZN.
And the big hitters in the construction industry are reluctant to tender for work in the province to avoid the vigilante groups that pose as business forums, but allegedly dictate terms at building sites over the barrel of a gun.
Their demands were usually for a slice of the payout pie or protection fees. According to a 2023 report released by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, a Geneva-based NGO, construction mafia operations surfaced in 2014. Their roots were in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, and such skulduggery, which spread countrywide, has drained R64 billion from the economy.
Meyer said a good example of the so-called construction mafias’ interference was the going-ons at Menzi High School in Umlazi, where work had been delayed for at least two years.
He said their hardline stance had direct and indirect impacts.
“Directly, projects are delayed, which impacts service delivery, inflates cost to the department, and it poses danger to employees at these sites.”
Meyer said the indirect impacts were the apprehension shown by national construction companies to work in KZN, and big businesses applying the brakes on investment in the province.
Heartening for him was the provincial government of unity’s stance on dealing with crime. The government’s stance was being driven by Premier Thami Ntuli, who has included Community Safety and Liaison in his office to give it personal attention.
Meyer said: “I will work closely with the premier on this, and through him, I will engage with the minister of police to discuss the way forward.”
Meyer would also be working with a SAPS task team and a multi-disciplinary task team to be set up, which would include academia, construction industry representatives, community organisations, traditional leaders and other role-players, to find a holistic approach to this challenge.
“I am more than willing to meet with community leaders regarding communities benefiting from work in their areas, as long as they approach us under a flag of peace and the rule of law. We will not negotiate with people who show up with guns,” said Meyer.
KZN SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker acknowledged that construction mafia threats of intimidation and extortion to economic sites within the country resulted in insurmountable damage to the economic growth and reputation of the country.
Naicker said they were working with organisations like Business Against Crime (BAC), the National Prosecuting Authority and other vital role-players to tackle the scourge.
“Protection fees, or give up 30% of the business, is the demand made by these thugs.”
Naicker said victims were usually scared to open cases, fearing a backlash and for the safety of their staff.
“Sometimes businesses feel it becomes easier to pay and move on, but this attitude only makes the situation worse.
“As of 2021, the KZN Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit has a group of dedicated investigators dealing with this matter, and working with private organisations like BAC.”
Naicker said it was extremely difficult to police this type of crime.
Naicker added: “A number of cases are going to court, but are delayed due to witnesses not testifying or co-operating, due to fear.”
KZN’s director of public prosecutions, advocate Elaine Harrison, confirmed that there were a number of construction mafia-related cases that had been enrolled, while other such matters were still under investigation and not yet enrolled.
Sunday Tribune