JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The Lawrence Mudzinganyama investigation has expanded beyond a criminal intimidation case into a sweeping government probe of his former business interests. Following a viral video of the businessman threatening women at a Sandton restaurant, authorities are now heavily scrutinizing Moriel Infrastructure Group’s government contracts and industry grading.
The widened scrutiny stems from a recently surfaced video showing Mudzinganyama, the former executive chairman and director of Moriel Infrastructure Group, allegedly threatening women after they rejected his advances. In the footage, he is heard telling the women, “I’m a wealthy man. You guys are poor ladies,” before allegedly threatening to “put a bullet” in them.
Police have confirmed that an intimidation case has been opened. Mudzinganyama handed himself over to the Randburg Police, where he was arrested and subsequently released on a warning. He is scheduled to appear in court on October 1, 2026, while law enforcement continues to gather statements and conduct further investigations.
However, the criminal case is only one facet of the mounting pressure. Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has directed the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to investigate allegations that Moriel Infrastructure Group obtained multiple contractor gradings on the exact same day. Questions are also being raised regarding whether the company actually met the necessary requirements for those classifications.
Addressing the probe, CIDB CEO Bongani Dladla noted that the board has deregistered nearly 65 contractors over the past two years for similar infractions, identified through anonymous tip-offs, verification processes, and media reports regarding project delivery.
“We register organizations and we expect that all our contractors will be good corporate citizens, and gender-based violence cannot be excused under any circumstances,” Dladla stated. He emphasized that while no act of gender-based violence can be tolerated by any business or male figure in the country, the board’s actions must strictly remain within its legal mandate and address specific transgressions related to the contractors’ registrations.
The fallout has also reached state-owned enterprises and other government departments. SANRAL confirmed it holds two contracts with Moriel Infrastructure Group for projects on the N1 and N2 roads. Additionally, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed it is verifying Mudzinganyama’s status across its various systems after the matter was referred by the police, with findings to be shared through appropriate government channels once the process concludes.
Meanwhile, gender-based violence activists have voiced strong concern over the incident and the subsequent legal proceedings. Advocates are questioning whether the justice system is doing enough to protect potential victims, criticizing the fact that Mudzinganyama was released on a warning and is currently roaming the streets.
Activists pointed out that his initial threats to “unalive” someone make his release highly concerning. They further argued that the justice system is failing to uphold the President’s declaration of gender-based violence and femicide as the country’s number one pandemic, which included directives to make it harder for perpetrators to secure bail or avoid stringent penalties.
