To combat the activities of syndicates known as the ‘construction mafia’, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala revealed that over 200 arrests have been made countrywide. These groups have been causing disruptions in government building projects by demanding money before allowing work to proceed.
The province of KwaZulu-Natal has particularly suffered from the actions of these syndicates, with various construction projects falling victim to their extortion tactics.
Zikalala emphasized that the government is actively addressing this problem and the results of their efforts are becoming evident. The trend of alleged construction hijackers, also referred to as “Amadela Ngokubona,” has been the focus of their attention. The minister stated that the arrests made so far are a step towards curbing these disruptive activities.
With the significant number of arrests already made, the government sends a strong message that it is committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting public infrastructure projects. By taking decisive action against the ‘construction mafia’, authorities aim to restore confidence in the construction industry and ensure that projects are completed smoothly and on time.