Construction mafia linked to organised crime: Mchunu

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says there are links between the so-called construction mafia and other forms of organised crime.

He was speaking at a national summit on crime at construction sites in Durban.

The summit has heard that the problem began in KwaZulu-Natal and has spread to Gauteng, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.

It takes the form of site invasions, intimidating contractors on site and extorting protection money.

Mchunu has encouraged contractors to report these crimes.

#CrimeFreeConstructionSites
According to Minister @Senzo_Mchunu_ Four key provinces have been identified under the scourge, Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape and We are making deals with private security companies to help fight this scourge and they are… pic.twitter.com/AViIP7KFSB

— Department Of Public Works and Infrastructure (@DepartmentPWI) November 19, 2024

Meanwhile, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says the question needs to be asked whether the 30% local empowerment arrangement that came into being under the Jacob Zuma presidency serves its purpose.

Macpherson says syndicates often demand money from contractors without doing any work or target private projects that are not subjected to the arrangement.

National Construction Summit: The Public is encouraged to report cases of criminality