Officials now want to ‘negotiate’ with the violent criminal mafias holding South Africa to ransom
MEC of public works and human settlements in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), Sipho Nkosi, says the city should negotiate with the ‘construction mafias’ – which have cost the city and the country billions of rands through the threat of violence – before law enforcement agencies get involved.
Nkosi’s comments came after his inspection of the Menzi High School project in Umlazi, south of Durban.
The 13-classroom construction project is valued at R37.8 million, but the project has been halted several times by “gun-wielding presumed construction mafia”, said the department. The project is now over a year behind.
Responding to the mafia-style extortionists, Nkosi said members of the group should be brought to the negotiation table before the city gets law enforcement involved.
“We want to find out who these supposed mafia are. We hope that whoever and wherever they are, they will be willing to enter into talks with the public works department,” he said.
He added that when a contractor wins a government tender, it is their prerogative that they give 30% to a subcontractor, but they have to provide the work and cannot demand to take over the whole project.
“I come from a very strong union background, and negotiations are the key as it is guaranteed by the constitution,” said Nkosi.
“Before my department takes steps to provide safety to this school project, I will have to ascertain whether these project disruptors are willing to work with us,” he added.
However, the MEC noted that if negotiations fall through, he will be forced to get the South African Police Service (SAPS) involved, including the state’s defence force if necessary.
According to Nkosi, these construction mafias and their antics have cost KZN close to R3 billion to date, and this is expected to increase if they continue to disrupt development.
Durban’s approach to the construction mafias stands in contrast to other cities. The City of Cape Town said the extortionists should not be negotiated with.
No negotiation
Speaking at the Big Five Africa Construction Summit in Midrand at the end of June 2023, public works minister Sihle Zikwalala said backlogs and hindrances on construction sites as a result of mafias have cost the economy more than R68 billion across 186 projects.
A recent case of public projects being stalled by mafias was seen in the City of Cape Town in mid-June when across the city, projects worth R58.7 million were halted due to threats and even murder committed by these ‘mafia-style” extortionists.
Rob Quintas, the city’s mayoral committee member for urban mobility, said that Cape Town and its contractors are being held ransom, severely impacting service delivery in the city.
Kganki Matabane, the CEO of the Black Business Council, said there is a lack of political will to deal with the issue, which has now spiralled out of control.
The CEO said that it is also having a damaging effect on foreign investors and their interests in South Africa. He added that investors are asking themselves if the level of lawlessness is something that can be dealt with and whether it would affect their investment.
He added that the government had left it very late and is too soft on criminals. Matabane has called for firm action to be taken decisively.
Quintas said that Cape Town – and other metros in South Africa – have targets for their capital expenditure, and it is disappointing to be forcibly prevented from meeting those targets.
However, he added that the City of Cape Town would not negotiate with extortionists, and there is simply no rand value for human life.
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