Construction mafias costing govt billions - Zikalala
Interference from so-called construction mafias across the country is estimated to cost the government some R3 billion since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This has been revealed by Public Works Minister Sihle Zikalala.
"This cost comes from the effects of delay caused by these construction mafias. Once a project is delayed, then you will have cost escalation and then that impact.
"In some cases, you get these construction mafias coming and people will be intimidated, then they will end up leaving the site and government will have to go back to the procurement stages."
READ: Zikalala vows crackdown on ‘construction mafia’ in KZN
The revamp of the Durban High Court is one of the projects affected.
Zikalala stopped by the facility on Margaret Mncadi Avenue in the CBD to see how work was progressing.
The site is now under 24/7 security after a construction mafia tried to hijack it.
The members are said demand work from contractors and sub-contractors on major infrastructure projects.
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Zikalala said the beefed-up security has led to unbudgeted costs.
"This project is 45 percent in terms of its advancement. We are expecting to finish it at least in 2025.
"It has been delayed because of these construction mafias. As the department, we are worried about this, but we are determined and thank the police that they are now paying attention to this trend."
