Macpherson Praises Cape Town's Initiative to Combat Construction Mafia

"From my very first day in office, I have been clear that the South African government would not be negotiating with criminals such as the construction mafia," Minister Macpherson stated.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has expressed strong support for a new collaborative effort involving the City of Cape Town, Atterbury, Old Mutual, and other stakeholders aimed at tackling the growing issue of the so-called construction mafia at developmental projects.

"From my very first day in office, I have been clear that the South African government would not be negotiating with criminals such as the construction mafia," Minister Macpherson stated. "Instead, we will work with all role-players to combat this scourge in our communities and protect our infrastructure projects."

The initiative, announced by Cape Town, Atterbury, Old Mutual, and other partners, seeks to address the increasing lawlessness at construction sites. The Minister welcomed this joint effort, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to fight crime and secure public and private sector investments.

"The construction sector should play a crucial role in driving our country's economy. Ensuring safety at construction sites and protecting investments from extortion and lawlessness is essential to achieving this goal," he added in a statement on Monday.

Macpherson also announced plans to meet with Cape Town's Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, and eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Cyril Xaba, later in August to discuss further strategies for combating the construction mafia. This follows a recent meeting with the City of Tshwane Mayor at the end of July.

"By working together, we can turn the tide against the construction mafia and ensure they no longer operate with impunity," the Minister said. He expressed eagerness to collaborate with the South African Police Service and the South African Revenue Service to identify and hold accountable those involved in criminal activities.

Macpherson stressed that to foster economic growth and job creation, South Africa must become a thriving construction hub, which is only possible by dismantling the influence of the construction mafia. He praised the Cape Town private-public partnership as a model for similar initiatives nationwide and called for a united effort to build a safer and more prosperous South Africa.