Johannesburg – Zimbabwean businessman Lawrence Mudzinganyama’s former company, Moriel Infrastructure Group, has been removed from the Construction Industry Development Board’s (CIDB) register, preventing it from undertaking public-sector construction work that requires active registration.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson announced the action on Tuesday, 27 October, saying the company was among contractors removed over concerns about information submitted to obtain higher registration grades.
The investigation into Moriel began in 2025, before a video allegedly showing Mudzinganyama threatening women at a Sandton restaurant circulated on social media in September.
“The CIDB commenced its investigation into the company in 2025 and served its first formal notice that year,” Macpherson said.
He said a further notice was issued on 11 September 2026, adding that the process had started before the controversy surrounding the businessman brought renewed public attention to the company.
Moriel was officially removed from the register on 15 October.
Zimbabwean businessman Lawrence Mudzinganyama, who is facing charges for allegedly threatening women in Sandton, has been blacklisted from doing business with the state.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson says his company, Moriel Group, is among 60 non-performing contractors that the CIDB has now barred
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) October 27, 2026
According to Macpherson, investigators raised serious concerns about whether the company had misrepresented its financial and technical capabilities to obtain higher CIDB grading designations, which determine the size and complexity of construction contracts a contractor can undertake.
The action forms part of a wider crackdown on contractors accused of misrepresenting their qualifications or experience to secure government work.
South African Daily reported that 13 construction companies were removed from the CIDB’s register in October, bringing the total number of contractors removed since June 2024 to 75.
Macpherson said only one contractor had been blacklisted between 2002 and 2024, a period of more than two decades.
The minister said the government was changing its approach to enforcement to ensure contractors could not misrepresent their capabilities without facing consequences.
“We are not interested in removing contractors for the sake of producing statistics, but we are interested in ensuring that the companies entrusted with public infrastructure have the qualifications, experience and financial capacity they claim to possess,” he said.
He added that the aim was to protect public funds, improve infrastructure safety and restore confidence in government procurement.
The CIDB is also strengthening checks on contractor applications, particularly those seeking higher grading levels. The measures include independently verifying information with banks and public-sector clients instead of relying solely on documents submitted by applicants.
WATCH | Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson says the CIDB has stepped up efforts to blacklist non-performing contractors, with 60 now barred from doing business with the state. https://t.co/fFhYoyfQl6
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 27, 2026
Where suspected fraud or forgery is established, the board may refer cases to law enforcement authorities in addition to taking administrative action.
The regulatory action against Moriel comes as Mudzinganyama faces criminal charges arising from an incident at Vlamo restaurant in Sandton in September.
A video circulated on social media appeared to show the businessman threatening women inside the restaurant’s bathroom after an interaction in which they reportedly rejected his advances.
He was arrested in September and later granted bail. According to eNCA, he faces 10 charges, including fraud, intimidation and crimen injuria.
Mudzinganyama has not been convicted of the charges.
The restaurant incident prompted several government investigations into the company’s dealings with the state. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy ordered the South African National Roads Agency to examine whether Moriel had been lawfully appointed to its contracts, while Macpherson directed the CIDB to investigate its contractor gradings.
Moriel subsequently announced that it had terminated its association with Mudzinganyama, removing him as executive chairman and director.
The CIDB investigation into the company’s registration is separate from the criminal case against the businessman.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
