South Africa Approves National Framework to Tackle Construction Mafia

Overview

• Cabinet has approved the Integrated Social Facilitation Framework and set up a multi-agency committee led by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to standardise how communities are engaged on high-risk projects.
• Since the Durban Declaration in November 2024 authorities logged more than 770 cases of extortion and intimidation that have led to 241 arrests and 176 convictions.
• Consequence management has stepped up with 52 contractors blacklisted since September 2025 and further firms under review.
• The tougher approach has reduced disruptions in some places, with KwaZulu-Natal incidents falling from more than 60 a month to under 10 and recent Gauteng stoppages in Randfontein and the Vaal Region stabilised through rapid escalation.
• Officials say networks use shell companies, false security and construction services, and infiltration of firms to extract payments, and the minister has reported links between some political actors and these networks while reporting does not fully substantiate party-level evidence.