Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer have agreed on the need for an urgent meeting with the respective MECs in every province, as well as Ministers in the Law Enforcement Cluster, to develop a response to construction mafia activity in the country.

During a meeting between the two officials on August 23, Meyer provided Macpherson with a report on how the problem of construction mafias had resurfaced in KwaZulu-Natal.

Macpherson publicly vowed shortly after his appointment to deal decisively with the construction mafia issue and to restore the rule of law at construction sites countrywide.

He deems it “simply unacceptable” that people are being fatally attacked and assaulted and that this activity is threatening additional infrastructure investment in the country.

Macpherson and Meyer also discussed how the Expanded Public Works Programme could be reformed to ensure it benefits recipients and contributes to job creation; and how national government can work with provincial government to expand infrastructure development in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Minister plans to meet with other MECs and mayors in the coming week to see what improvements can be made in the infrastructure sectors of more provinces.