DURBAN - Five men, who were accused of trying to forcibly take over the Durban High Court construction site on Tuesday, are behind bars.
The men, believed to be from the construction mafia were arrested at the construction site on Margaret Mncadi Avenue (previously Victoria Embankment).
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) said armed men tried to forcefully take over the site.
DPWI spokesperson Thami Mchunu said: “At 8am on Tuesday a heavily armed group of men, allegedly from a local development forum, forced access onto the site, stopped workers, and chased away contractors appointed by the DPWI, in an alleged attempt to gain control of the site.”
Mchunu said the SAPS Tactical Team responded, arresting six people in the process. Police had charged five of them.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said security guards and construction workers were performing their duties at court when they were attacked by a group of people.
“The suspects chased, threatened, and instructed the employees to leave the site. Police were called and arrested five suspects aged between 22 and 35 for intimidation and trespassing.”
The men appeared in the Durban Magistrates Court on Wednesday on charges of intimidation, public violence, contravention of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority Act, and tampering or destroying essential infrastructure.
In court, state prosecutor Quintelle Adams asked for a seven-day adjournment for bail investigation.
The accused’s addresses needed to be verified and Adams needed to check their profiles to see if they had any pending cases and previous convictions.
The temporary site of the Durban High Court is at the Durban Magistrate’s Court in Somtseu Road.
Mchunu said the High Court redevelopment and renovation project by the DPWI started on May 6 and is expected to be completed in September 2025 at a cost of R850 million.
The project done for the Department of Justice is for the redevelopment of the Durban High Court, including renovating the existing historic building, as well as the construction of two new buildings to accommodate additional courtrooms and High Court staff.
“The DPWI expects the entire project to be completed in September 2025, but site invasions such as the one which occurred this week add delays and costs to the project, which is ultimately funded by the taxpayer.”
The department has commended the SAPS for their swift and decisive action in arresting those responsible for site invasion.
“It is such disruptions that have led to delays in many projects, disrupting service delivery and holding the country to ransom. We would like to reiterate that as a department we will prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone who seeks to illegally benefit from state infrastructure projects,” Mchunu concluded.
Daily News