The business sector has praised the leadership of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for the reduction of incidents involving construction mafia groups. Picture: Independent Newspapers Archives
Image: Independent Newspapers Archives
The partnership between the business community and the police in KwaZulu-Natal is effectively dismantling construction mafia syndicates that have disrupted construction projects in the province.
The construction mafia syndicates has had a significant impact on the economy due to the financial burden on the construction industry. A summit was held in Durban last year to address the issue.
During a meeting held yesterday between the SAPS and business leaders in uMhlanga, it was revealed that construction mafias were previously disrupting about 60 sites a month. However, last year, only six such cases were reported, highlighting the significant progress made. Business leaders credited the leadership of the KZN police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, for this achievement.
The SAPS, led by Mkhwanazi, met with business leaders in Durban to brief them on the ongoing efforts to combat crime.
The commissioner said the meeting was also necessary to address the allegations that had been levelled against him in the media. Among these allegations is that Mkhwanazi had interfered with the arrest of a certain individual to prevent his arrest.
He said it was important to address the allegations with the business community as they have the potential to undermine the SAPS and, thereby, investor confidence in the province.
The sentiment among business leaders present was that the allegations are a smear campaign by those who want Mkhwanazi out of the way so they can continue their criminal activities. Business leaders said since Mkhwanazi took over the role, there has been a marked difference in the fight against crime in the province, and he continues to have their full support.
During the largely private meeting, The Mercury understands that the SAPS outlined the work done and detailed the areas where the business community could assist.
Speaking on the crimes affecting businesses, Andrzej Kiepiela, of the KZN Growth Coalition, credited Mkhwanazi’s leadership for effectively dealing with the construction mafias, also known as business forums.
He said this issue emerged six to seven years ago and escalated to about 60 attacks a month.
“We tried talking to the SAPS and the previous management before Commissioner Mkhwanazi arrived, but they were not responsive. So, between the Chamber of Commerce and the Growth Coalition, we were trying to impress upon them (previous management) that we needed special attention on this issue,” Kiepiela explained.
“When Commissioner Mkhwanazi came, we sat down and devised a strategy to deal with this. We agreed to communicate with the business community, particularly construction sites, to let us know what the problems were, where they were occurring, and who was attacked. We asked them to take photographs but not engage directly, as they could be in danger.
“We began to receive co-operation from the SAPS and metro police. We communicated requests for assistance upwards, even to the commissioner himself, and they dispatched officers to intervene and investigate. This started to work to the extent that last year we only had six cases. In contrast, other provinces without the structure we established, such as the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Gauteng, began to experience significant problems,” he said.
Business leaders urged the community and civil society to contribute to fighting crime. Moses Tembe, a Durban businessman and a leader of the KZN Growth Coalition, said it cannot be the responsibility of the SAPS alone.
“The reason we thought we should engage (meet with) Commissioner Mkhwanazi and the management of SAPS is to begin forging a stronger partnership between the SAPS and business. We believe that all hands must be on deck in tackling crime.”
Palesa Phili, chief executive officer of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the engagement between SAPS and the business community should occur at least twice a year.
“We are pleased that we have a very approachable police commissioner who likes to work with business. When I first met him, he said that what is a priority for him is to ensure that businesses are safe so that we can create more jobs, and that is happening.”