DURBAN — eThekwini Municipality has been asked to account for a R16.1 million sewer contract awarded to Moriel Infrastructure Group (Pty) Ltd, the engineering firm whose former executive chairman, Zimbabwean businessman Lawrence Chamurwa Mudzinganyama, was arrested at the weekend after a video showing him threatening a group of women at a Sandton restaurant circulated widely on social media.
In questions submitted to the City Manager on Monday in terms of Section 27(3) of the council’s Rules of Order, ActionSA councillor Zwakele Mncwango demanded a full accounting of Contract WS-7792 for the construction of the North Park Sewer Reticulation, Tie-In and Associated Works, valued at R16,105,433.75.
Mncwango is asking for the contract’s original and final values, commencement and completion dates, current progress, total payments made, outstanding amounts and any approved variations or extensions.
He also wants the identity of every bidder, their tendered amounts and final evaluation scores, and Moriel’s functionality, price, preference, B-BBEE, CIDB and overall scores.
A third question goes to the heart of the matter, what due-diligence checks the City conducted on the company’s ownership, directors, tax compliance, CIDB registration, Central Supplier Database status, restricted-supplier records and conflicts of interest.
The councillor has further asked the City Manager whether the municipality is aware of the public allegations against Mudzinganyama, and whether any related matter has been formally reported to law enforcement, while noting the questions should not prejudge any investigation or individual.
He wants a schedule of all contracts, purchase orders, panel appointments, variations and subcontracting arrangements involving Moriel across the municipality, and whether any further tenders involving the company are currently under consideration.
“My investigation reveals that the eThekwini Municipality awarded a R16 million tender to a Zimbabwean man in 2024/25. This is the same man who wants to kill women in Sandton, telling them that he has a lot of money. It turns out he is referring to our money here in eThekwini,” he wrote on his facebook page.
“I have written to the City Manager seeking answers and access to the tender documents relating to this man because I want to know how he got the contract. I also want it to emerge who he is working with here in South Africa, because he is very well connected,” he continued.
Mudzinganyama has not been convicted of any offence. Gauteng police confirmed that an intimidation case was opened at Randburg police station on 19 September following an incident at Vlamo restaurant at Sandton Gate the previous evening.
He was arrested on Sunday, released on warning, and is expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on 1 October.
In footage recorded by one of the women and shared online, he is heard telling the group he could put a bullet in them and that he would murder them and walk, and asserting that he was wealthy while they were poor.
Mudzinganyama has since issued a public apology, describing his language as unacceptable and unjustifiable, saying he should have removed himself from the confrontation, and undertaking to cooperate with the police investigation.
The Moriel board announced on Sunday that it had terminated its association with him as executive chairman and director with immediate effect, saying he would no longer represent or speak for the group in any capacity, and condemning violence against women.
The eThekwini questions land alongside two national investigations into the company itself.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has instructed the South African National Roads Agency to investigate whether Moriel was lawfully appointed and whether it is meeting its contractual obligations.
Sanral acting chief executive Lehlohonolo Memeza said that at a time when the country faces widespread gender-based violence, no South African could allow women to be threatened and insulted with impunity.
Sanral records cited in national media show Moriel was awarded a contract worth roughly R107.5 million in October 2024 and a further contract worth about R71.6 million in January 2025.
Separately, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has directed the Construction Industry Development Board to investigate allegations that Moriel obtained multiple CIDB gradings on the same day, and that it may not have met the requirements for them, gradings that may then have been used to secure contracts across spheres of government.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has asked Home Affairs to examine Mudzinganyama’s immigration status.
None of these processes has produced a finding of wrongdoing against the company or against any organ of state that contracted with it.
Mncwango is ActionSA’s mayoral candidate in eThekwini for the 4 November local government elections, and the party has campaigned in the metro on service delivery, water losses and immigration enforcement.
