A major infrastructure project aimed at overhauling the Golden Highway bridge in Gauteng has been indefinitely suspended due to violent interference from so-called ‘construction mafia’ elements. The R548 million project, which connects Johannesburg to Vanderbijlpark, was awarded to LoneRock in early 2025—but escalating threats and physical assaults have made further progress impossible.

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According to legal documents submitted to the Pretoria High Court in June, LoneRock director Godfrey Mokabane detailed a disturbing series of incidents where workers were assaulted, a mechanic was shot, and criminal elements—including local taxi associations and civic organisations—demanded a share of the project’s budget.

Threats, Assaults, and Extortion Attempts

In his sworn affidavit, Mokabane explained that LoneRock staff have faced repeated violent encounters. A LoneRock mechanic was recently shot and pistol-whipped, while other employees have also suffered intimidation. The attacks prompted the immediate suspension of operations at the site.

Taxi associations and local business forums have demanded payments and insisted on involvement in the project—some allegedly requesting money regardless of whether they provided services. During meetings with stakeholders, Mokabane claimed that ward councillors ordered police officers to vacate the room, after which the meetings devolved into chaos with no resolution reached.

Despite LoneRock’s refusal to comply with demands for payments and positions, the threats intensified. The South African Police Service’s Organised Crime Unit had reportedly assured the company it could resume operations, but further intimidation followed—including a demand from the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) that work be paused until they were consulted.

Political Figures Tied to Intimidation

The situation has also raised concerns about political interference. The City Press reported that Sithembiso Zungu, the Chief Whip of Johannesburg’s council and a previous accused party in an extortion case related to a housing project in Lenasia South, is the ward’s political overseer. Zungu was previously jailed for violating a protection order obtained by a contractor.

Mokabane’s affidavit revealed that multiple groups—including taxi operators and local business leaders—have been making their own demands, such as being appointed as subcontractors and receiving work allocations based on ward divisions.

The report outlines at least eight incidents of obstruction and harassment in March, followed by four more in April. Despite the gravity of the situation, government entities such as the police ministry and implicated organisations have yet to respond formally to the court.

The Broader ‘Construction Mafia’ Crisis in South Africa

The disruption of the Golden Highway project highlights a growing national issue: the rise of criminal networks—popularly known as construction mafias—that systematically extort contractors and derail infrastructure projects.

These groups have made headlines in recent years, particularly in provinces like Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape. In Cape Town, city officials have had to conceal tender values for transport projects to shield contractors from extortion attempts.

National government has acknowledged the crisis. In her early 2025 statement, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed that at least four large-scale road upgrades had been affected by similar tactics between 2018 and 2024.

Smaller initiatives, such as routine pothole repairs, have also faced interference from community leaders demanding to be ‘involved’ in the contracts.

Government’s Plan to Combat the Crisis

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana addressed the problem during his March 2025 Budget Speech, describing these groups as “organised extortion gangs that use violence to gain a share of lucrative projects.”

In response, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has proposed deploying specialised police units and reforming procurement laws to neutralise these criminal syndicates. One significant development has been the signing of the Durban Declaration in November 2024, a joint agreement between SAPS, National Treasury, and government departments. The declaration sets the foundation for a coordinated approach involving law enforcement and procurement policy changes to address the threat.

As it stands, however, the Golden Highway bridge rehabilitation project remains paralyzed, with no immediate resolution in sight. Until firm legal and security frameworks are enforced, South Africa’s infrastructure ambitions risk continued sabotage by criminal interests hiding behind the veil of community activism.