Roads agency confirms two contracts with Moriel Infrastructure Group as Transport Minister orders investigation into the company’s appointment and contractual obligations
A video of a man threatening to kill women after they rejected his advances at a Johannesburg restaurant has been trending on social media this weekend.
The man in the video, who described himself as a “wealthy man” who could “put a bullet” in the women’s heads and walk away, has been identified as Lawrence Chamurwa Mudzinganyam, a Zimbabwean national and the founder and Executive Chairman of Moriel Infrastructure Group.
The incident has drawn attention to the company because it is a contractor to the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL).
Following the circulation of the video, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy instructed SANRAL’s board to investigate whether Moriel Infrastructure Group was lawfully appointed by the roads agency and whether it is fulfilling its contractual obligations.
SANRAL confirmed that it has two contracts with Moriel Infrastructure Group, relating to projects on the N1 and N2 national roads respectively.
“The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has noted with concern and condemns a video currently circulating on social media in which one of its contractors, Lawrence Chamurwa Mudzinganyam, the founder and Executive Chairman of the Moriel Infrastructure Group, is seen threatening to kill women at a Johannesburg restaurant,” the agency said.
The incident comes at a time when South Africa is grappling with widespread gender-based violence, including the killing of women and the disposal of victims’ bodies along roads and other public spaces.
“At a time when our country faces widespread gender-based violence which has resulted in the loss of thousands of women and girls, no South African can allow women to be threatened and insulted with impunity,” said SANRAL Acting Chief Executive Officer Lehlohonolo Memeza.
The roads agency said its investigation has already started and that it is consulting its lawyers on possible action against Moriel Infrastructure Group for bringing SANRAL’s reputation into disrepute.
SANRAL is also reviewing its policies and standard tender documents to consider including a clause that would exclude companies whose directors or senior managers are implicated in gender-based violence.
The agency has further called on public and private entities in the construction sector to work towards finding ways to blacklist companies with directors or senior managers implicated in gender-based violence.