Vice-Chairman Mashatile outlines SAPS strategy to combat construction mafia in South Africa

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has stepped up its efforts to combat the growing menace of the construction mafia through a coordinated and multidisciplinary approach to criminal activities. Deputy Speaker Paul Mashatile shared these updates during a recent meeting with Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly, where he discussed his delegated responsibilities.

Mashatile revealed that SAPS has set up specialised investigation teams to tackle extortion and violence on 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 crime plaguing the construction sector, labelling these groups as “murderous construction mafia”.

“The construction mafia has severely crippled many businesses and we must take decisive action to protect this vital industry,” Mashatile said, stressing that the disruptions not only threaten lives but also hamper government efforts to stimulate economic growth and employment through large-scale infrastructure projects.

To counter these criminal networks, SAPS is working with a range of stakeholders including state-owned enterprises (SOEs), government departments, private security companies and civil society. Mashatile also stressed the government’s commitment to tackling the problem by introducing policies such as the National Infrastructure Plan, the Critical Infrastructure Programme and the Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum (IBACF).

Established in 2020, the IBACF is a major initiative focused on monitoring infrastructure projects and establishing systems to detect and prevent corruption. It comprises members of civil society, representatives of the built environment sector and various government agencies, including the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). Mashatile noted that the forum is already yielding positive results in curbing criminal activities in the construction sector.

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

Despite these efforts, Mashatile acknowledged that the scale of mafia crimes may be underreported as witnesses and victims are reluctant to come forward. He urged communities, businesses and organisations to work with SAPS to bring perpetrators to justice.

Top-notch detective work and criminal intelligence are also crucial to securing watertight prosecutions against crime bosses, Mashatile stressed. He called for stronger efforts to confiscate the proceeds of crime and jail those responsible for undermining the country’s development goals.

“The activities of the construction mafia seriously undermine our vision of a developmental state as set out in the National Development Plan 2030,” Mashatile warned. He stressed that criminal organisations pose a serious threat to public safety and the integrity of construction projects that are vital to South Africa’s economic future.

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