Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has endorsed the collaborative effort by the City of Cape Town and other partners to tackle the rising problem of the construction mafia in development projects.
“From the beginning of my tenure, I have emphasized that the South African government will not engage with criminals like the construction mafia. Instead, we are committed to working with all involved parties to address this issue and protect our infrastructure projects. I commend the unified approach by both private and public sectors in Cape Town and am hopeful that similar actions will be adopted nationwide,” said the Minister.
The City of Cape Town, Atterbury, Old Mutual, and other key players have announced a collaborative effort to tackle the growing issue of criminal activities at development projects.
“To combat the increasing lawlessness at construction sites across the nation, it’s crucial that we unite and adopt innovative strategies to address crime effectively,” he remarked.
“The construction sector should be instrumental in driving our country’s economic growth. This can only be achieved if we ensure that construction sites are secure and that investments from both public and private sectors are protected from criminal activities and extortion,” he stated.
The Minister also expressed anticipation for upcoming meetings with Cape Town’s Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, and eThekwini Municipality’s Mayor, Cyril Xaba, later in August, to discuss how national and local governments can collaborate on addressing the construction mafia, following his recent discussions with the Mayor of Tshwane at the end of July.
“By uniting our efforts, we can shift the momentum against the construction mafia in South Africa, ensuring they can no longer operate without consequences. I am committed to working with the South African Police Service and the South African Revenue Service to identify these criminals and accelerate their accountability.”
“To stimulate economic growth and job creation, we must transform South Africa into a major construction hub, which can only be achieved by dismantling the construction mafia.”
“The new private-public partnership in Cape Town will be instrumental in achieving this goal and should be a model for similar initiatives throughout the country. Together, let’s build a better South Africa,” the Minister said.
