The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice) has joined other industry bodies in strongly condemning the recent spate of alleged ‘mafia-style’ coordinated gang activity on project sites across the country.

In a statement issued in April, Saice referred to pleas from the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec), which noted that such attacks had disrupted and halted projects worth over R25-billion and caused engineers and personnel on sites to flee in fear for their safety.

“This is an issue that has reached crisis levels and affects the safety of professionals in industry, as well as investor confidence. The outcomes of this situation will have far-reaching effects if not responded to as a matter of urgency by President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet,” Saice acting CEO Steven Kaplan said.

He noted that the attacks had included violent protests at project and construction sites that subsequently ended in arson, property damage and violence against professionals, who were accosted by armed individuals demanding a stake in projects.

Kaplan referred to incidents highlighted by Safcec, such as the incident where armed gangs demanded to be part of the R1.65-billon South African National Roads Agency bridge project, in the Eastern Cape, and caused Aveng and the Europe-based Strabag International to pull out of the project.

He also cited a “much more recent incident”, in March, where construction on the R2.4-billion German oil storage investment project, in Saldanha, in the Western Cape, was halted after armed gangs arrived on site.

“The Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBCBE) also recently issued a letter to [Police Minister] General Bheki Cele to request urgent intervention. The BBCBE reported that some of its members engaged in construction activity had been subjected to victimisation and disruption on a daily basis, owing to local business forums demanding participation in projects.”

The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors has also expressed its concern and has called on the National Prosecuting Authority and the local police to address the situation.