MBSA CONDEMNS VIOLENCE DURING PROTESTS

MBA NEWS

Master Builders SA (MBSA) condemns the destruction of property and ongoing looting of businesses that took place recently. These actions represent acts of wanton criminality that directly impact the viability of construction projects and job security in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

With an understanding that the construction and manufacturing sectors remain critical enablers of SA’s economic recovery plans, the destruction of property hampers regional infrastructure projects. Projects in and around KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng have ground to an abrupt halt, with enormous consequences for the infrastructure development plans and economic recovery of the country.

“Given the nature of the protests, supply chains in and around Durban and Johannesburg have been disrupted. Even as the clean-up operations continue, there’ll be costly delays in the supply of key components and materials” explains Roy Mnisi, executive director of MBSA. “The closure of sites and transport routes puts pressure on project timelines. We anticipate a huge increase in declarations of force majeure.”

The uncertainty and volatility of the protests are likely to widen SA’s growing skills shortage, while pushing its infrastructure development plans back by decades. With 2021 data from Stats SA showing that 382 000 people are employed in Gauteng’s construction industry and 222 000 people are employed in KZN’s construction industry, MBSA is concerned about the long-term impact the destruction of property will have on the sustainability of the sector.

“As a key driver of SA’s economy and a key pivot in the country’s post-Covid-19 recovery, the construction industry needs to maintain and grow its resilience and talent pool. Disruption of business activity and destruction of property further delay the recovery of the economy from successive lockdown restrictions increasing the unemployment figures in the country,” adds Mnisi. “While we’re not in a position to quantify the overall financial losses associated with each act of vandalism, we condemn all forms of violence and destruction of property.”

Peaceful protest is a constitutional right. However, when it degenerates into violence, destruction of property and disruption of business, it detracts from the gains made since the onset of the pandemic, thereby disrupting the socio-economic empowerment and development of all who call SA home.