Special Investigating Unit on progress in tackling construction mafia
18 December 2023
The Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum (IBACF) wishes to congratulate the South African Police Services and law enforcement agencies on their progress in tackling the criminal elements involved in the extortion and threats to construction workers, construction projects and investment in infrastructure of the
country.
The IBACF convened its quarterly meeting on 12 December 2023 to discuss the progress that has been made in fighting corruption in the construction sector.
The National Priority Committee on Extortion and Violence at Economic Sites, which is chaired by the SAPS, was invited to engage with the IBACF to identify synergies and areas of interface as both structures are active in fighting various crimes in the construction sector.
There are ongoing investigations in the sector by various law enforcement agencies that have led to consequence management such as asset recoveries, disciplinary actions, and criminal prosecutions. It is against this background that the IBACF welcomes and congratulates the SAPS on their progress in addressing the construction sector mafia in South Africa. The SAPS has confirmed that the 712 cases referred for investigation have resulted in 722 arrests and 52 convictions so far.
The IBACF was formed in 2020 to assist in the implementation of South Africa’s Infrastructure Investment Plan, as approved by the Cabinet in May 2020. The forum is a multi-stakeholder body comprising various arms of government, civil society and the built environment sector and was created to monitor infrastructure projects more effectively and put systems in place to detect and prevent corruption.