Deputy President Mashatile Outlines SAPS Strategy to Combat Construction Mafia in SA

Deputy President Paul Mashatile shared these updates during a recent engagement with Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly, addressing his delegated responsibilities.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has ramped up its efforts to combat the rising threat of construction mafia through a coordinated and multi-disciplinary approach to criminal activities. Deputy President Paul Mashatile shared these updates during a recent engagement with Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly, addressing his delegated responsibilities.

Mashatile revealed that SAPS has established specialized investigative teams to target extortion and violence at construction sites across the country, with a focus on hotspot regions such as KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The Deputy President has previously spoken out against the violent criminality plaguing the construction sector, labeling these groups as “murderous construction mafia.”

"The construction mafia has severely crippled many companies, and we must act decisively to protect this vital industry," Mashatile said. He emphasized that the disruptions not only threaten lives but also hinder government efforts to drive economic growth and job creation through large-scale infrastructure projects.

To counter these criminal networks, SAPS is collaborating with a range of stakeholders, including State-owned entities (SOEs), government departments, private security companies, and civil society. Mashatile also underscored the government's commitment to addressing the issue by introducing policies such as the National Infrastructure Plan, the Critical Infrastructure Programme, and the Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum (IBACF).

The IBACF, established in 2020, is a key initiative aimed at monitoring infrastructure projects and putting systems in place to detect and prevent corruption. It consists of civil society members, representatives from the built environment, and various government entities, including the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). Mashatile noted that the forum is already producing positive results in curbing construction-related criminal activities.

Additionally, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is conducting pilot projects under the Social Facilitation Concept, approved in 2021. The Salvokop Precinct Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP) serves as a test case, integrating social facilitation into construction practices to improve project outcomes.

Despite these efforts, Mashatile acknowledged that the extent of the mafia's crimes might be underreported due to witnesses and victims being reluctant to come forward. He urged communities, businesses, and organisations to collaborate with SAPS to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Top-class detective work and crime intelligence are also crucial to securing airtight prosecutions against crime bosses, Mashatile stressed. He called for stronger efforts to seize the proceeds of crime and lock up those responsible for undermining the nation’s development goals.

"The activities of the construction mafia severely undermine our vision of a developmental State, as outlined in the National Development Plan 2030," Mashatile warned. He emphasized that criminal organisations pose serious threats to public safety and the integrity of construction projects vital to South Africa's economic future.

The Deputy President concluded by encouraging all South Africans to unite in the fight against these criminal organisations and work towards building a safer, more prosperous nation.