Extortion relating to large infrastructure projects in the Eastern Cape is receiving Presidential attention, the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Mr Oscar Mabuyane, has told a delegation of Eastern Cape Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
The delegation is in the province for the NCOP’s flagship Provincial Week 2025 programme. Premier Mabuyane told the delegation that on the very day of their visit an engineer on one of these projects was ambushed in his home. “He was ambushed. Cars were taken and a lot of other equipment was stolen. The engineer is overseeing a mega R1.5 billion project. We are working on the deployment of the SANDF members. We can’t have a situation where we are trying to catch up on infrastructure but extortionist gangs are delaying that work,” he said.
“These are catalyst projects that will resolve a lot of infrastructure challenges. Deployment of soldiers is not easy but in the Eastern Cape we have taken a stance to say, every project has to be done on time and within budget,” Mr Mabuyane said. There is no money to waste on extortionists, he said.
Eastern Cape delegation member Mr Makhi Feni said it is true that the province is a construction site, as this is evidence when driving around the province. “We appreciate the enthusiasm that the Eastern Cape government has shown. The province is engulfed with serious challenges at municipal level where service delivery is meant to happen. The money is not being used and is returned returned to the National Treasury,” he noted.
He also said it is important that the government differentiates between thugs and genuine entrepreneurs who wanted to provide services to the state. He said cooperation among departments is critical.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Whip and the leader of the delegation, Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyane, said it is important that due diligence is conducted on companies applying to work for the state. “People who are meant to do these projects are not doing it. This poses challenges. A company will face challenge from another province, run and leave ongoing project, only to resurface in the Eastern Cape awarded serious tenders. Due diligence is key to development.”
Nkosi Nonkonyane said the challenge of nonpayment within the prescribed time also needs to be resolved as it poses serious risks to small businesses. Lack of due diligence and nonpayment of small, medium and micro enterprises should carry serious consequences.
Collective effort is required, Premier Mabuyane concluded.
Sibongile Maputi
18 November 2025
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