Johannesburg,South Africa

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure,Dean Macpherson is insisting that he will fight the construction mafias which are persistently harassing people across South Africa.

The Minister has confirmed that he visited the province of KwaZulu-Natal and during his visit he met with MEC of Public Works and Infrastructure,Martin Meyer.

He revealed that Meyer has told him that there is a need for an urgent meeting with all the respective MECs in all provinces and the Ministers in the Law Enforcement cluster,and that meeting wants to be held in KwaZulu-Natal so that they will develop a decisive plan on how to combat construction mafia across the country.

During his visit also learnt on how the construction mafia resurfaced in KwaZulu-Natal and he visited one of the construction site accompanied by MEC Meyer and was informed that people killed by mafias in that site.

Macpherson maintains that he will stick on his guns as he promised when he took over few months ago as Minister that he will deal with these mafias which are destroying the construction industry and economy.

"Shortly after I was appointed as Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure,I vowed to deal decisively with the construction mafia and to restore the rule of law at construction sites across the country.During a recent oversight visit to the uMkhomazi water project,I learnt how an altercation with the construction mafia led to the death of three people and the assault of another.This is simply unacceptable.We will never be able to attract additional infrastructure investment,and turn the country into a construction site,while this lawlessness continue,"said Minister Macpherson.

He emphasised that the meeting between all MECs of Public Works across the country and Ministers which responsible for Law Enforcement is required to deal with this problem.

"This is why it is imperative to host this important meeting with Public Works MECs across the country and the Ministers in the Law Enforcement cluster to develop a comprehensive plan to turn the tide against the construction mafia to not only attract additional infrastructure investment but to protect the lives of our people,"Macpherson adds.

In their meeting,Minister Macpherson and MEC Meyer also discussed on how the Expanded Public Works Programme(EPWP) can be reformed to ensure it benefits the recipients and adds value to the job creation.

He concluded by promising to work hand in hand with the MEC to uplift economy and creates job opportunities and promised to meet MECs in other provinces and mayors to find ways on how to improves the lives of the South African.

"KwaZulu-Natal is a province of such immense potential,and I therefore look forward to working closely with the MEC to unlock economic growth and job creation in the province.I will be meeting with MECs in other provinces and mayors in the week ahead to see how we can work together to improve lives of our people.It is only through working together towards a common vision that we can unlock South Africa's potential.Let's Build South Africa,"Minister Macpherson concludes.