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Extortion Mafias Crippling Eastern Cape Infrastructure

By

Editor: Troubling allegations in light of major construction about to take place at Coega.

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) remains deeply concerned about the growing influence of extortion mafias across the Eastern Cape, particularly in key areas such as Buffalo City, OR Tambo, and Nelson Mandela Bay.

The ongoing disruptions to vital infrastructure projects have reached a crisis point, with construction mafias exploiting public infrastructure delivery, threatening contractors, and stalling economic progress in the province. While the Premier’s call for military intervention reflects the gravity of the situation, we believe a long-term, sustainable solution is needed.

The impact of these extortion activities extends far beyond stalled infrastructure projects. It is devastating communities and hindering economic recovery. Delays in completing public infrastructure lead to under-expenditure and the forfeiting of vital budgetary funds to the national fiscus, which affects the most vulnerable citizens who depend on this infrastructure for access to basic services.

Moreover, incomplete projects are often abandoned and left to deteriorate, resulting in vandalism, community unrest, and a loss of public trust in government. For ordinary citizens, these delays mean continued unemployment, fewer job opportunities, and deferred access to essential services.

We cannot afford to let criminal elements dictate the pace of progress. The DA acknowledges that the existing measures, such as Operation Khusela, have been effective in some areas, but they are not enough to address the root causes of the extortion problem. The time has come for a focused, coordinated, and long-term response.

The DA proposes the establishment of a Provincial Task Team on Infrastructure Protection. This multidisciplinary team would be responsible for safeguarding critical infrastructure projects from extortion, ensuring their timely completion, and protecting the Eastern Cape’s economic growth prospects.

Key elements of the Provincial Task Team:

  • Leadership by the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (ECDPWI): The ECDPWI must take a leading role in coordinating the task team and working alongside other stakeholders to protect infrastructure projects and ensure they are completed on time.
  • Strengthened Law Enforcement Presence: The DA calls for deploying dedicated SAPS units through Operation Khusela and the National Priority Committee to increase security at high-risk construction sites. A more visible law enforcement presence will deter criminal activity and provide a safer environment for contractors.
  • Contractor Protection and Reporting Mechanisms: Contractors working on public infrastructure projects must feel protected from criminal elements. The DA recommends strengthening the extortion hotline, with contractors encouraged to report incidents of extortion without fear of retaliation. SAPS should integrate these reports into monthly case tracking to ensure swift intervention.
  • Community Engagement through Social Facilitation: The DA supports expanding the role of social facilitators, as outlined by the National Department of Public Works. By engaging with local communities and incorporating their concerns into the planning process, the government can mitigate unrest and ensure that communities support, rather than disrupt, infrastructure projects.

The task team’s key goals would be to prevent extortion attempts on infrastructure projects, create safe working conditions for contractors, and reduce delays currently stifling economic growth in the province.

This initiative would build on efforts like Operation Khusela but provide a more coordinated and provincial-level response to extortion that addresses immediate security concerns and long-term development goals.

The provincial government must act now if the Eastern Cape is to recover economically and create jobs through infrastructure development.

The DA is committed to working alongside all stakeholders to ensure that our infrastructure projects are protected from criminal interference and that the people of the Eastern Cape can finally benefit from the services and job opportunities they so desperately need.

Regards

Yusuf Cassim MPL
Shadow MEC for Community Safety

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Port Elizabethan

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