KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer has big plans to clamp down on the construction mafia that has held up key building projects across the province.

Meyer, in an interview with the Mail & Guardian, highlighted his new strategy to deal with illicit groups.

The now national construction mafia problem emerged in KZN in around 2014 before spreading to other provinces including the Western Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

Recognising the national problem, Meyer said he is taking immediate steps to deal with the crisis — and not only in KZN.

He has written to National Minister Dean Macpherson to request a meeting with all nine provincial MECs to develop a national policy and strategy to stamp out the problem.

‘We have to firstly distinguish between business forums and the so-called construction mafia because many of these construction mafia groups will call themselves business forums as well. Right now, we are trying to sift out who we can talk to and who we can’t,’ Meyer said.

He said there are legitimate forums that want to access work in line with the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act regulations.

Meyer’s strategy is multipronged and includes engaging with the forums and setting up a special task team with local traditional leaders and councillors; community members; public works officials and the police to ensure that local people benefit from project work opportunities. He plans to work with the community from the moment his department receives a request for a new project so that locals are notified early on to take ownership of the project before the construction mafia even enters the scene.

He had written to Macpherson asking for the issue be dealt with on a national level.

Macpherson said he had received the letter and scheduled a meeting with Meyer to discuss the matter and ‘chart a way forward’.

Full Mail & Guardian report