The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, of misleading the nation by providing false information regarding the arrest of members of the so-called construction mafia. The DA claims that Zikalala’s statement about more than 200 arrests is not corroborated by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
In July, Minister Zikalala claimed that over 600 individuals associated with construction mafias had been arrested. These construction mafias are notorious for extorting protection fees from companies in the sector, costing the country’s economy an estimated R68 billion.
Sello Seitlholo, a spokesperson for the DA, expressed concern over Zikalala’s misleading statements. Seitlholo stated, “Zikalala must be held accountable for deliberately going out of his way to mislead the nation through false information.”
The DA plans to address the issue when Minister Zikalala appears before the Portfolio Committee of Public Works and Infrastructure. The party intends to demand that Zikalala takes responsibility for his false claims.
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If the minister refuses to acknowledge his misleading crime statistics, the DA will refer the case to Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests. They will request an investigation into the potential violation of the Executive Members Ethics Act and Code of Conduct by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.
The DA’s accusations highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in government. It raises concerns about the credibility of information provided by public officials and the potential impact on public trust. The construction mafia issue is a significant problem for the construction sector and the country’s economy as a whole. It is crucial for accurate information to be shared to address this issue effectively.
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