Latest news with #constructionmafia
News24
21-07-2025
- Sport
- News24
SA soccer players stranded in Portugal, FlySafair's woes: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. Graphic: Sharlene Rood News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. R135m school project crumbles as Joburg chief whip faces 'construction mafia' allegations - Sithembiso Zungu, Johannesburg Council's chief whip, is accused of using his position to halt construction projects through coercion and extortion, demanding 'facilitation fees' and dictating local business involvement. - Zungu defied interdicts, leading to a two-month prison sentence for disrupting a housing project, and is accused of stalling a R135-million school refurbishment project by demanding payments to businesses linked to his ward's business forum. - Zungu denies the 'construction mafia' allegations, blaming his detractors for trying to tarnish his name and claiming the contractor failed to complete the school refurbishment. Cape Town parents demand refund after paying 'fees' at a no-fee school - Parents at Edison Century City High School are angry after discovering they've been paying R1 500 annual fees to what is officially a no-fee school since 2023. - Parents claim they were pressured into paying, some SGB members who raised concerns were ostracised, and they are demanding refunds. - The WCED confirms the school is no-fee, stating the R1 500 was introduced as a voluntary donation by the SGB to improve the quality of education, and parents were informed of the school's status. 25 stranded teen soccer players 'safe' in Portugal as Dirco tries to facilitate return - A group of 25 South African soccer players, aged 13-18, are stranded in Portugal after attending the Donosti Cup in Spain, as their return flights were not secured. - The players' parents each paid R50 000 for the trip, but logistical issues with flight reservations left them without confirmed return tickets. - The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) is aware of the situation and is exploring ways to assist, while BT Academy claims visa appointment delays impacted flight arrangements. Sandton businessman arrested for DJ Sumbody hit - It is understood that Katiso 'KT' Molefe has been arrested in connection with the murder of DJ Sumbody. - Molefe and others are already awaiting trial for the murder of Armand Swart. - Two of Molefe's co-accused also face charges related to an attempted murder of Tebogo Thobejane. FlySafair scraps flights amid wage strike, says pilots earn up to R2.3m already - FlySafair confirmed that 8% of its flights were cancelled on Monday due to pilots reporting they would not fly. - More than 200 FlySafair pilots are expected to strike for two weeks after rejecting the airline's wage agreement offer. - Solidarity is advocating for industry-competitive salaries and has raised concerns about changes to the roster system impacting pilots' leave. Carl Fourie/Gallo Images Oldest living Springbok dies at 96 - Des van Jaarsveldt, the oldest living Springbok and captain of the team in his only Test match, has died at the age of 96. - Van Jaarsveldt captained the Springboks to victory against Scotland in 1960 and was the only Rhodesian to ever captain the team. - The SA Rugby Legends Association paid tribute to Van Jaarsveldt, acknowledging his profound impact on the game and his continued support. Frennie Shivambu/Gallo Images via Getty Images Miss SA in trouble? Pageant postponed after CEO exit and shaky plans - Miss South Africa 2025 has been postponed from August to a later date in 2025 to align with international events. - The Miss South Africa organisation aims to broaden the pageant's reach by expanding its pillars to include entrepreneurship, job creation, cultural awareness, and social cohesion. - The postponement follows the resignation of CEO Stephanie Weil, leading to fan speculation about the reasons behind the changes and potential impact on Miss Universe 2025 participation.
Zawya
30-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa's infrastructure crippled: Can ISO 37001 fight back against the construction mafia?
Criminal syndicates known as the construction mafia have crippled South Africa's infrastructure sector, hijacking more than 180 projects and inflicting an estimated R63bn in economic losses, according to the National Treasury. Operating under the guise of community forums, these groups use intimidation, extortion, and violence to secure a foothold in government tenders and construction contracts. While law enforcement has begun to respond, 745 extortion cases have been reported, and 240 arrests have been made since November 2024. Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson admits that this is only the beginning. "We are turning the tide," he said recently, but warned that corruption remains deeply entrenched in procurement systems and local government supply chains. Against this backdrop, experts at WWISE (Worldwide Industrial and Systems Engineers) are calling for the widespread adoption of ISO 37001, a tool they believe could play a critical role in fortifying the sector from within. 'This may be South Africa's last line of defence if we want to build infrastructure without bribery or intimidation,' says Muhammad Ali, managing director at WWISE. 'ISO 37001 helps organisations embed ethical conduct into every stage of a project, from procurement to execution, making it harder for criminal networks to manipulate the system.' Global anti-bribery benchmark ISO 37001 is not just a policy; it's a globally recognised standard, or in other words, a formalised, best-practice framework developed by international experts to help organisations detect and prevent bribery. As a standard, ISO 37001 establishes a uniform, auditable benchmark for anti-bribery management across industries, enabling companies and governments to foster transparency, demonstrate accountability, and safeguard their reputations. 'The standard requires top-level leadership commitment, risk assessments, strict financial controls, and confidential reporting systems,' explains Ali. 'It doesn't just help companies avoid corruption, it actively reshapes their culture.' Corruption in the construction industry not only inflates costs but also endangers lives. Ali notes that criminal infiltration has led to shutdowns, missed milestones, and Service Level Agreement (SLA) penalties. 'We've seen cases where construction mafia threats delayed entire projects, with local authorities often turning a blind eye, or worse, getting a cut,' he says. Unchecked hiring hazards Van Zyl Krause, technical specialist at WWISE, warns that companies often feel forced to hire unqualified labour to avoid conflict. 'These so-called 'community contractors' are often unregistered, uninsured, and unsafe,' Krause says. 'That puts the principal contractor and everyone on site at risk, while forcing them to spend even more on private security.' ISO 37001 offers practical safeguards. It ensures that tender documents are traceable and auditable. It enforces ethical vetting of suppliers and enshrines whistleblower protection through encrypted systems. 'You can't bribe your way into a tender process governed by ISO 37001,' says Ali. Yet adoption of the standard remains frustratingly limited. 'Most construction companies in South Africa haven't implemented it,' Krause says. 'The only time we see ISO 37001 considered is when international investors require it.' Ali adds that public-sector resistance is particularly troubling. 'The fear is that ISO 37001 will expose misconduct,' he says. 'But that's the point. The excuses, 'too complex', 'too bureaucratic', don't hold water. This standard can be adapted to any organisation.' He points to a compelling case in Iraq, where a security company under attack from corrupt government officials used ISO 37001 to clear its name. 'The audits exposed the wrongdoing, and the officials were jailed. That's the power of a strong, standardised anti-bribery framework.' For smaller contractors, who are often the most vulnerable to extortion, ISO 37001 can provide an essential shield if supported by law enforcement. 'The problem may not be with the company,' Ali warns, 'but when it needs support, the authorities often fall short.' Standards drive reform WWISE urges companies to begin their journey with a Gap Assessment to identify risk areas, followed by a structured implementation process that includes internal training, documentation development, internal audits, and certification. 'This isn't a checkbox exercise,' says Ali. 'It's a roadmap to ethical business.' With billions at stake and a growing list of sabotaged projects, it's clear that arrests alone won't be enough. As Minister Macpherson rallies law enforcement, experts say South Africa must also rebuild its infrastructure sector from the inside out, with internationally recognised standards, such as ISO 37001, leading the way. 'If we don't change how we build,' says Ali, 'we'll keep rebuilding what criminals destroy.'
