From Summit to Consultation: Is the Response to Construction Disruptions Too Slow?

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Machpherson, recently called for public comment on the Integrated Social Facilitation Framework, which was developed following the National Construction Summit on Site Disruptions held in Durban last November. This framework, driven by Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s (DPWI’s) Social Facilitation Unit, aims to institutionalize social facilitation as a key tool to address disruptions caused by criminal syndicates commonly known as the construction mafia.

The framework’s focus on ensuring infrastructure and built environment projects reflect the needs of communities and legitimate stakeholders is a positive and necessary step. Embedding social facilitation from project inception has the potential to protect sites from manipulation and safeguard project delivery.

While we remain committed to working closely with the DPWI and other stakeholders to support constructive and progressive change for infrastructure in the county, we wish to raise a pertinent question for our members: why has it taken nearly a year since the summit for this framework to reach the consultation phase, while construction-related disruptions continue to undermine project timelines and safety?

Our CEO, Chris Campbell, has consistently highlighted the severe impact of the construction mafia on South Africa’s infrastructure sector, noting that these criminal activities threaten not only the safety of professionals and workers but also the broader economic environment, deterring investment and job creation.

We encourage member firms to engage with the consultation process actively, to ensure the framework addresses the practical realities on the ground and accelerates meaningful change.