The Cabinet of South Africa has applauded the new approach to eliminating criminal activities on construction sites, with the introduction of the Durban Declaration at the inaugural National Construction Summit on Crime-Free Construction Site on 19 November 2024.
The declaration outlines a powerful series of initiatives that will reshape South Africa’s construction industry. It is projected to drive significant improvements in the construction industry by reducing project delays and cost overruns caused by criminal interference, rebuilding investor confidence in South Africa’s infrastructure sector, creating thousands of jobs through uninterrupted project delivery and the expansion of local enterprises, and stimulating economic growth.
The focus is squarely on action and results, with key interventions that include:
Strengthening legislation governing the construction industry
- Reviewing and enhancing laws governing the construction sector to deter and penalise unlawful activities.
- Introducing policies to incentivise adherence to safety and labour standards.
Implementing policies to promote sustainable industry growth
- Promoting sustainable practices to support long-term industry resilience and competitiveness
Enhancing data and reporting mechanisms for greater accountability
- Deploying advanced data systems to monitor project performance, identify vulnerabilities, and improve transparency
- Creating a national reporting mechanism to document and track cases of site-related crime.
Accelerating arrests and prosecutions of individuals involved in site extortion and violence:
- Accelerating investigations, arrests, and prosecutions of those involved in site extortion, intimidation, and violence
- Partnering with law enforcement agencies to increase on-site security and conduct targeted operations against criminal syndicates.
The declaration places a strong emphasis on empowering emerging enterprises, supporting skills development, and fostering collaboration across the industry. The government is calling on all stakeholders, including contractors, labour unions, and community leaders to support the implementation of the Durban Declaration. Collaborative platforms and working groups will be established to ensure that input from diverse voices shapes the future of the sector, stakeholders share best practices, create solutions to challenges, and accelerate sector
transformation.
Speaking on the significance of these initiatives, the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) CEO, Bongani Dladla highlighted the significance of the new direction: “The Durban Declaration is a bold and decisive step toward building a safer, more efficient, and more inclusive construction industry. With these initiatives, we are not just addressing current challenges. We are creating a foundation for sustainable growth, job creation, and the successful delivery of infrastructure that will benefit all South Africans.”
The strategic actions outlined in the declaration reflect the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring infrastructure projects are completed on time, within budget, and in a manner that fosters economic growth and job creation across the country.
This collaborative, action-driven approach demonstrates the unified resolve of government and industry leaders to reclaim the construction sector from criminal elements, ensuring its role as a cornerstone of the nation’s economic and social development.