CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — Parliament’s Transport Portfolio Committee has strongly questioned the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) regarding a controversial incident where one of its contractors was caught on camera making death threats against women at a Johannesburg restaurant.
The briefing, which focused on procurement and consequence management, was convened after a video circulated widely on social media showing Lawrence Mudzinganyama, chairperson of Moriel Infrastructure Group, harassing, intimidating, and threatening a group of women. Moriel Infrastructure Group currently holds two contracts with SANRAL. The public outcry prompted Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to instruct the state-owned entity to launch an official investigation into the matter.
During the session, MPs expressed deep disgust at Mudzinganyama’s actions and pressed SANRAL’s top management and Board on the progress of the consequence management process.
Thalente Kubheka of the MK Party pressed the agency for a concrete timeline regarding the investigation. “When is the report coming, or is it just going to be open-ended that the report is coming?” Kubheka asked. “Do we have a date of when the report is coming?” She further noted that if the internal report is still pending, SANRAL should already have a report from the Central Bureau of Procurement (CBP) that previously questioned the contractor’s gradings.
Ntando Maduna of the ANC condemned the contractor’s behavior, describing the restaurant incident as a “very distasteful event.” He noted that the chairperson’s attitude was “unwelcomed and very rude given the time in which we are and the words that he used.” Maduna also commended the Minister for ordering an investigation to ensure that individuals appointed to work with the entity are lawful.
Committee Chair Donald Solamolela echoed the frustration, making it clear that the investigation cannot remain an open-ended query. He instructed SANRAL to provide a definitive date for the submission of the report. “When you respond here, you must tell us when you are expecting the report,” Solamolela directed. “If you have not yet made a determination, you can request to come back on a particular day.”
In response, SANRAL acknowledged that it is actively considering what disciplinary action can be taken against Mudzinganyama, noting that his conduct has brought the entity into disrepute.
SANRAL Acting CEO Lehlohonolo Memeza confirmed that the probe is active. “The update is that the investigation is underway, and once this investigation has been completed, the report will be shared with the Minister of Transport, as she requested and instructed that the investigation be conducted,” Memeza stated.
Despite the assurances, MPs expressed overall dissatisfaction with SANRAL’s presentation, stating it lacked sufficient detail and transparency. Consequently, the committee has issued a strict directive, giving SANRAL 14 days to respond to all outstanding questions in writing.
