Ramaphosa Vows Crackdown on ‘Construction Mafias’
21:01 13.11.2025 (Updated: 22:54 13.11.2025)
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Ramaphosa Vows Crackdown on ‘Construction Mafias’ as $59 Bln Investment Moves Forward to Address Apartheid Spatial Legacy, Revive Construction Sector
South Africa's president has reaffirmed government’s commitment to using infrastructure as a catalyst for inclusive growth, job creation, and spatial redress — declaring that South Africa is entering “a new era of building not just an industry, but a nation.”
Speaking at the National Construction Summit, Ramaphosa said the government is driving a massive R1 trillion ($59 billion) infrastructure investment over the medium term, describing infrastructure as “the backbone of development” and “the flywheel of the economy.”
He noted that “capital payments are the fastest growing expenditure item in our national budget,” rising by 7.5% over the medium term, with efforts underway to unlock more private participation through reforms to public-private partnerships and unsolicited bid processes.
Highlighting recent progress, Ramaphosa cited the construction sector’s role in South Africa’s improving labor market:
“Construction was the biggest contributor with 130,000 new jobs.”
He linked the drive to deeper social transformation, stressing that infrastructure can “play a key role in reducing inequality” and undo the “apartheid spatial planning [that] left vast swathes of our country without any meaningful economic capacity.”
The president said post-1994 investments in electricity, water and housing “fundamentally changed the lives of millions of people.”
However, he warned that criminal activity threatens this progress.
“We will not negotiate with construction mafias,” Ramaphosa declared, adding that “law enforcement agencies will deal with those who break the law.”
Ramaphosa concluded that the goal is to “turn the country into a building site,” with visible cranes and construction vehicles symbolizing a nation at work — building both opportunity and dignity for all.
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Sputnik Africa | X
South Africa's president has reaffirmed government’s commitment to using infrastructure as a catalyst for inclusive growth, job creation, and spatial redress — declaring that South Africa is entering “a new era of building not just an industry, but a nation.”
Speaking at the National Construction Summit, Ramaphosa said the government is driving a massive R1 trillion ($59 billion) infrastructure investment over the medium term, describing infrastructure as “the backbone of development” and “the flywheel of the economy.”
He noted that “capital payments are the fastest growing expenditure item in our national budget,” rising by 7.5% over the medium term, with efforts underway to unlock more private participation through reforms to public-private partnerships and unsolicited bid processes.
Highlighting recent progress, Ramaphosa cited the construction sector’s role in South Africa’s improving labor market:
“Construction was the biggest contributor with 130,000 new jobs.”
He linked the drive to deeper social transformation, stressing that infrastructure can “play a key role in reducing inequality” and undo the “apartheid spatial planning [that] left vast swathes of our country without any meaningful economic capacity.”
The president said post-1994 investments in electricity, water and housing “fundamentally changed the lives of millions of people.”
However, he warned that criminal activity threatens this progress.
“We will not negotiate with construction mafias,” Ramaphosa declared, adding that “law enforcement agencies will deal with those who break the law.”
Ramaphosa concluded that the goal is to “turn the country into a building site,” with visible cranes and construction vehicles symbolizing a nation at work — building both opportunity and dignity for all.
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
Sputnik Africa | X
