Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says government’s fight against the construction mafia has yielded 241 arrests and 176 convictions, marking what he described as the next phase in tackling criminal disruption of infrastructure projects.
Speaking during a media briefing in Cape Town on Tuesday, Macpherson announced that Cabinet had approved the Integrated Social Facilitation Framework (ISFF) as a binding national policy instrument to standardise community engagement across infrastructure projects.
He said the framework marks “the next phase” in government’s efforts to combat criminal groups that have disrupted public infrastructure projects through intimidation, extortion and violence.
“It is the next phase in our fight against the construction mafia,” Macpherson said.
“It is the next phase in restoring law, order and confidence to construction sites.”
The minister said the new framework seeks to ensure communities are properly consulted before construction begins, preventing criminal groups from exploiting local grievances to hijack projects.
“We are moving from reacting to site invasions to preventing the conditions that allow them to happen in the first place,” he said.
Macpherson said the construction mafia had become one of the biggest threats to infrastructure delivery when he assumed office in July 2024.
“It was clear to me then, as it remains clear to me now, that South Africa cannot turn itself into a construction site if construction sites are controlled by criminals,” he said.
According to the minister, criminal syndicates had been stopping projects, intimidating contractors, vandalising equipment and demanding payment or work despite having no lawful claim to construction contracts.
He said these activities increased costs to the state, discouraged investment and deprived communities of much-needed infrastructure.
Macpherson said the turning point came after government convened a national summit on construction mafia activity in Durban in November 2024, culminating in the signing of the Durban Declaration, which committed government, law enforcement agencies and industry stakeholders to a coordinated national response.
Since then, he said measurable progress had been achieved.
“More than 770 cases of construction-related extortion and intimidation have been reported across the country,” he said.
“Of those, 241 arrests have been made. Most importantly, 176 individuals have been convicted.”
Macpherson said the greatest improvement had been recorded in KwaZulu-Natal, previously regarded as the epicentre of construction mafia activity.
“In KwaZulu-Natal, monthly site disruptions have dropped from more than 60 incidents per month to fewer than 10 incidents per month.”
He said the figures demonstrated what could be achieved through coordinated action between government, police, contractors and the private sector.
However, the minister cautioned that government was “not declaring victory”.
“The construction mafia is still active,” he said.
“These networks are still looking for ways to infiltrate projects. They are still trying to exploit legitimate participation and local economic development requirements.”
He pointed to recent disruptions in Randfontein and the Vaal as evidence that the threat remains, although he said authorities had responded more rapidly than in the past.
Macpherson said the newly approved framework is intended to close gaps that criminal groups have exploited by introducing structured community participation throughout the life cycle of infrastructure projects.
Under the policy, communities will be engaged before projects begin, while accredited Social Facilitators will help manage stakeholder engagement, identify risks early and resolve disputes before they escalate into construction stoppages.
“For too long, community engagement in infrastructure projects has been inconsistent and fragmented,” he said.
“In many cases, self-styled community liaison officers stepped into the vacuum and claimed to speak on behalf of communities.”
“That vacuum has been exploited by extortionists.”
He said government was now moving away from “ad hoc consultation” towards “structured engagement”.
“We are moving from crisis management to prevention,” he said.
“And we are moving from allowing criminals to claim the language of community participation, to ensuring that real communities are engaged through lawful, transparent and accountable structures.”
Looking ahead, Macpherson said government would prioritise implementing the framework on high-risk projects, strengthen monitoring and reporting, professionalise Social Facilitators and continue working with law enforcement agencies to ensure those involved in extortion, intimidation and procurement abuse face criminal consequences.
