The construction mafia has become so entrenched in South Africa that the risk of organised crime is increasingly factored into project contracts – suggesting that these criminal activities are a legitimate part of doing business.

‘Although the South African government and various industry stakeholders are working to address the issue, the challenges remain and have now reached the point where many legitimate businesses are forced to cut jobs or scale back operations due to the financial pressures from extortion and intimidation,’ says Mosha Senyolo, President of ASAQS. ‘This contributes to higher unemployment, particularly in locations where construction and infrastructure development is key. Workers and businesses are threatened, which breaks down community trust and safety. Construction mafias are creating a climate of fear, and its ripple effect is giving rise to more opportunistic criminal behaviour.’

Ethical and existential dilemma

It’s estimated that the construction mafia has cost South Africa’s economy approximately R68 billion over the past decade. The impact on quantity surveyors is significant, as they have to account for potential extortion payments and increased security measures within their budgets.

“Additionally, intimidation and disruptions lead to project delays, making it challenging not only for the contractors, but also for the project quantity surveyor to manage the complexities while trying to maintain their professional reputation,” says Senyolo.

The increased call by contractors to incorporate the risks associated with organised crime into project contracts further complicates risk management strategies and drives up costs. She adds, ‘Moreover, dealing with clients or contractors who may be coerced, causes an ethical dilemma, putting our members in a difficult position as they strive to uphold the integrity that is at the core of our profession.’ Consequently, the relationships between quantity surveyors, contractors and clients suffer, fueled by anxiety over project security that often erodes communication and trust.

Sharing insights and encouraging whistleblowing

To effectively root out construction mafias, ASAQS calls for the establishment of a collaborative platform between built environment professional associations and SAPS. Since many members are directly impacted and face an existential risk, ASAQS is ideally positioned to create a safe space for industry professionals to submit tipoffs and blow the whistle on corruption. ‘Such a collaborative platform would enable us to share insights and potential approaches to combatting the construction mafia together with SAPS, based on the lived realities of our members on the ground,’ says Senyolo. Furthermore, ASAQS leadership is considering to engage directly with the special unit established by SAPS.

These measures – as well as regular meetings and information-sharing platforms with local communities during the planning phase of projects – are expected to encourage the reporting of suspicious activities without fear of retribution. By working more closely and establishing a platform to share insights, industry bodies and SAPS have the power to combine their forces in the fight against the construction mafia.

Learn more about the Construction Mafia and how organised crime is holding South Africa’s building industry hostage here.