The R16.1 million eThekwini Municipality tender awarded to Moriel Infrastructure Group, a company linked to businessman Lawrence Chamurwa Mudzinganyama, remains intact, the City has confirmed.
The municipality was responding after a video went viral in which Mudzinganyama is allegedly seen threatening women during an altercation at a restaurant in Sandton.
In the video, Mudzinganyama can allegedly be heard repeatedly stating that he is a wealthy man and that he did not care about being recorded, claiming he could kill them and get away with it.
Mudzinganyama handed himself over to police at Randburg Police Station, was arrested, and later released on a warning to appear in court on October 1.
Moriel Infrastructure Group has reportedly removed Mudzinganyama as executive chairman, and he has since apologised, saying he deeply regrets "the fear and distress I caused, as well as the public concern generated by the footage".
This comes amid mounting public pressure for authorities to investigate whether procurement processes for government contracts awarded to companies linked to Mudzinganyama were above board, and whether work is being executed in line with service level agreements.
South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral), which also awarded a contract to a company linked to Mudzinganyama, dismissed claims that its former chief executive is a Nigerian national, stating that its records reflect that Mr Demana is a South African of Venda descent.
The roads agency has further been linked to unsubstantiated social media claims that its Gauteng provincial head, Progress Hlahla, facilitated the appointment of Moriel Infrastructure Group, the entity associated with Mudzinganyama.
“Sanral can confirm that Mr. Hlahla is a Zimbabwean national and got his permanent residence status in South Africa in 2013. He is a qualified civil engineer with a master’s degree in project and construction management and a master’s in business administration. He joined Sanral in 2016,” the agency said, adding that the two projects awarded to the company are not in the Gauteng province where Hlahla is the provincial head.
“We remind our stakeholders and the public in general that there is an investigation currently underway, directed by the Minister of Transport Ms Barbara Creecy, to establish whether the Moriel Infrastructure Group was lawfully appointed and if it is fulfilling its contractual obligations to Sanral. Any speculation or purported findings about the investigations would be premature and irresponsible,” the road agency said.
Meanwhile, following allegations of gender-based violence against Mudzinganyama, ActionSA councillor Zwakele Mncwango in eThekwini has submitted written questions to the City Manager in terms of Section 27(3) of the Rules of Order, seeking clarity on the status of Moriel Infrastructure Group's contract with the municipality.
Among the questions raised were the contract's original and final values, current progress, total payments made to date, and any outstanding amounts.
Mncwango also sought details on the tendered amounts and final evaluation scores, including Moriel’s functionality, price, preference, B-BBEE and CIDB scores, as well as its overall score.
Approached for comment, the municipality did not provide specific responses to several questions, including whether it had received Mncwango's query, details of the tender process followed in awarding Contract WS-7792, and the date on which it was awarded.
Instead, the municipality shared a media statement released on Wednesday, acknowledging public concern regarding Contract WS-7792 for the North Park Sewer Project following allegations circulating publicly about a director of Moriel Infrastructure Group (Pty) Ltd.
”The municipality unequivocally condemns Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in all its forms. GBVF has no place in our city, and the Municipality stands in solidarity with survivors. We encourage anyone with information relating to a crime to report it to the South African Police Service for investigation,” it said.
The city further stated that criminal matters fall within the mandate of law enforcement agencies and the courts, and that the municipality will not prejudge any individual or ongoing legal process.
“Should any matter arise that affects a service provider’s ability to fulfil its contractual obligations, the municipality will take the necessary action in accordance with the terms of the contract and applicable legislation,” it said.
The city added that the company has been appointed by eThekwini Water and Sanitation to implement the North Park Sewer Reticulation, Tie-In and Associated Works Project.
“The contract was awarded at a tender value of R16,105,433.75 (including VAT). In line with standard infrastructure project management practices, the total project authority includes provisions for price escalation and contingencies, bringing the total approved project value to R19,326,520.50 (including VAT).” it said.
The municipality stated that the contract commenced in May 2025, is due for completion in November 2026, and is currently 95% complete.
“All municipal contracts are administered and monitored in accordance with their contractual conditions and the requirements of the Municipal Finance Management Act,” the city said.
Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola expressed outrage that Mudzinganyama was released on a warning after he was allegedly filmed following women into a Sandton restaurant bathroom and threatening to kill them.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson ordered a probe into irregular gradings, and the Police Minister confirmed his documentation would be examined.
Martlé Keyter, CEO: Operations at MISA, said:“Women in this country are dying with protection orders in their bags. They do everything the law allows to protect themselves, and they are pursued and killed anyway. When a man declares on camera that he will murder women and is released on a warning, the NPA is not managing a risk, it is telling every woman she is on her own.”
Portfolio committee chairperson on Transport, Donald Selamolela, also condemned Mudzinganyama's behaviour, describing it as unacceptable and regrettable.
Selamolela said: “It is unacceptable that this kind of behaviour was brazenly displayed by someone in the civil engineering and construction industry; it is right up there when it comes to alienation of women in our country, especially black women.”
Police have vowed to investigate allegations of threats, intimidation or criminal conduct, stressing that investigations cannot be conducted on social media and that it is their responsibility to "investigate, gather the evidence and place that evidence before the courts".
The incident has unfolded against a backdrop of intense national concern over violence against women, including the recent deaths of nine women in Ekurhuleni.
rapula.moatshe@nationalmg.co.za