KZN roads hit as syndicate steals over R250m in construction machinery

A criminal syndicate has looted more than R250 million worth of construction machinery across KwaZulu‑Natal since 2024, disrupting road projects and prompting arrests this week.

Arrests and recovery

Authorities this week arrested three suspects in Eshowe and recovered a stolen grader. The suspects were detained by a specialised KZN Department of Transport security team working with the Organised Crime Unit deployed by provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Scale of the thefts

KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the province has lost over R250 million worth of heavy construction machinery and transport vehicles since 2024. He warned the thefts have crippled road projects and threatened maintenance work.

“The machinery is critical in ensuring the timely construction of new roads and the maintenance of more than 34 000 kilometres of road networks,” Duma said.

Types and numbers of machinery stolen

Duma said the syndicate has stolen a total of 43 construction machines, including TLBs, excavators, pay loaders, rollers, tipper trucks, loader backhoes, graders, LDV double cabs and truck cranes. Authorities have recovered 22 construction machines and vehicles worth R45 million, while 21 others valued at R200 million remain missing.

How the syndicate operates

According to Duma, members of the syndicate have at times hijacked staff and construction workers and carried out thefts “under the cover of darkness.”

He said the criminals use tactics such as fake number plates, impersonating mechanics and claiming to have been authorised by the Department of Transport to take the construction machinery. Duma said these tactics are used to bypass security systems and to trick security guards.

Response and appeal

The province has improved construction site security and installed tracking devices on machinery to deter theft, Duma said. He also called on residents to act against those responsible, appealing for unity to confront what he called a “tiny minority of criminals.”