Suspected arrests by the construction mafia over hospital activities in Pretoria

Police in Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria, arrested four people on Monday on charges of extortion, assault and intimidation.

These arrests followed a detailed investigation into criminal activities that disrupted the construction of the oncology department of the George Mukhari Hospital, a vital healthcare facility in the region.

According to police spokesperson Johan van Dyk, the suspects are accused of interfering with construction work at the site, which is under development to provide much-needed cancer treatment to the local community.

Van Dyk said the suspects obstructed delivery trucks carrying essential construction materials and halted progress on the construction site.

He said they also allegedly assaulted the site manager, made threatening statements and made unreasonable demands to stop the project.

“The George Mukhari Hospital Oncology Unit is a crucial project that aims to improve access to specialist healthcare services in the region.

“The disruption of such an important facility not only threatens the progress of the hospital’s development, but also poses a risk to the well-being of the local community, which depends on the medical services provided by the hospital,” said Van Dyk.

The suspects now face multiple charges, including extortion, assault and harassment. These are serious crimes that can have far-reaching consequences for the project and its timeline.

“Investigations continue to determine whether the arrested persons are involved in other criminal activities, particularly in connection with the growing problem of construction site disruption by so-called construction mafias.

We will take strong action against those who seek to disrupt critical infrastructure projects that benefit our communities, and it is imperative that services such as healthcare remain accessible without interference from criminal elements.”

The public has been urged to report incidents of extortion or similar crimes via the national hotline on 0800 911 011.

Police remain vigilant in investigating these criminal activities to ensure that development projects, especially those related to public health, continue unhindered.

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