Nearly R1 billion spent in the past 5 years to secure sites targeted by the construction mafia

CAPE TOWN – Over the past five years, almost R1 billion has been spent securing building sites in the Western Cape that have been targeted by the construction mafia.

This was according to Tertuis Simmers, MEC Infrastructure, who indicated that the projects, worth almost R400 million, have been delayed by as much as three years as a result of extortion that appears to be increasing across the country.

He said they had tried to tackle the plague with tactical and control units.

“As a department, we cannot use almost a billion rand over the next five years. We now need to appeal to the community that is supposed to benefit from these projects to start assisting with investigations.”

Simmers said some of the extortionists were known in the communities.

“Many of these elements and individuals who are committing extortion live in these communities, many of them are known and what the investigating officers are asking now is, come forward, you may remain anonymous. Through my department there is a contact number where you can contact us to give us certain details.”

According to Simmers, the worst violence occurred at the Airport Infills projects.

“They also seriously injured some workers on the construction site, they sadly shot them. Then we also saw attempts on other sites under the guise of your business forums, blocking projects, demanding 30 percent, demanding certain things.”