GAUTENG — The long-stalled Mamelodi East Magistrate Court has become a prime example of how the so-called construction mafia is crippling government infrastructure, with the Department of Public Works losing more than R5 million to severe project disruptions.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson and Deputy Chief Justice Dunstan Mlambo recently conducted a joint oversight visit to the incomplete three-story building. The facility has been under construction for nearly a decade, with more than R163 million spent on the project to date. The prolonged delays have been attributed to a combination of poor workmanship by previous contractors and direct interference by construction mafia syndicates.
During the visit, Deputy Chief Justice Mlambo expressed deep concern over the compounding delays in providing the Mamelodi East community with effective access to justice. He emphasized that the three arms of government must cooperate to ensure that the constitutional promise of justice becomes a reality.
Mlambo highlighted that the infiltration of government construction projects by criminal elements requires a united and aggressive response. He noted that law enforcement agencies and the executive branch must work closely together to address the disruptions, cost overruns, and stalled progress that have plagued infrastructure developments like the Mamelodi East court.
Addressing the financial and contractual fallout of the delays, Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson revealed that several service providers have been officially blacklisted by the construction board. These companies were penalized for misrepresenting their grading to secure government contracts, as higher-value projects require higher grading classifications. Macpherson confirmed that the department is also pursuing internal civil claims and litigation to recoup the millions of rand lost to the disruptions.
Despite the setbacks, a new contractor has been appointed to finally complete the long-delayed magistrate’s court. While the current deadline for the project’s completion is set for 2028, Deputy Chief Justice Mlambo has called on authorities to accelerate the construction. He urged that the project be finished well before the 2028 deadline to ensure the community gains access to justice without enduring any further delays.
