- Cabinet approves the Integrated Social Facilitation Framework as a binding national policy for public infrastructure projects.
- Government says the framework will prevent construction disruption through structured community engagement and stronger professional oversight.
- More than 176 convictions and 241 arrests have been secured since the 2024 Durban Declaration as authorities intensify action against criminal extortion groups.
The South African Cabinet has approved the Integrated Social Facilitation Framework (ISFF) as a binding national policy aimed at standardising community engagement and preventing disruptions to infrastructure projects before construction begins.
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson announced the approval during a media briefing on 7 July 2026, describing the framework as the next step in government’s strategy to eliminate criminal extortion networks that have targeted the construction sector.
The policy follows sustained action against organised criminal groups, often referred to as the construction mafia, which previously disrupted around 180 infrastructure projects with an estimated combined value of R63 billion.
The ISFF introduces a uniform national approach to community engagement across public infrastructure projects. It requires social facilitators to be appropriately qualified, formally registered and subject to a professional code of ethics.
Government said the framework shifts its approach from responding to construction disruptions after they occur to preventing conflict through early and structured engagement with affected communities.
The policy also reinforces a zero tolerance approach to criminal activity at construction sites. While legitimate local businesses will continue to have opportunities to participate in projects through lawful procurement processes, individuals involved in extortion or illegal site invasions will face immediate law enforcement action.
Government reported significant progress since the Durban Declaration was adopted in November 2024. Authorities have recorded more than 770 criminal cases linked to construction related extortion, resulting in 241 arrests and 176 convictions. A further 52 contractors have been blacklisted for corrupt practices.
The intervention has also contributed to a sharp decline in construction site disruptions in KwaZulu Natal, with reported incidents falling from more than 60 per month to fewer than 10.
The framework was launched alongside senior leaders from South Africa’s built environment sector, including Acting Deputy Director General for Real Estate Management Services Molatelo Mohwasa, Council for the Built Environment CEO Dr Msizi Myeza, and South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions President Sharon Shunmugam.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
