JOHANNESBURG, Monday 21 September 2026 — Two Cabinet ministers have ordered separate investigations into Moriel Infrastructure Group’s dealings with the state after businessman Lawrence Mudzinganyama was filmed threatening women at a Sandton restaurant, placing the company’s SANRAL contracts and construction-industry gradings under official scrutiny.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has instructed the South African National Roads Agency to establish whether Moriel was lawfully appointed and whether it is meeting its contractual obligations.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has separately directed the Construction Industry Development Board to investigate allegations concerning multiple gradings obtained by the company.
Neither investigation has made a finding of procurement wrongdoing against Moriel.
The reviews follow public scrutiny generated by a video showing Mudzinganyama making threats against women at Vlamo restaurant in Sandton.
SANRAL reviewing two contracts
The South African National Roads Agency confirmed that Moriel currently holds two contracts involving the N1 and N2 national road network.
At Creecy’s request, the agency is investigating whether the company was lawfully appointed and whether it has complied with its contractual obligations.
Published SANRAL tender information cited by TimesLIVE indicates that contracts involving the company include an award of about R107.5 million made in October 2024 and another worth approximately R71.6 million awarded in January 2025.
The existence of government contracts does not itself indicate irregularity.
The investigation will determine whether procurement requirements were followed and whether contractual obligations have been met.
CIDB examining company gradings
Macpherson’s instruction concerns a separate regulatory issue.
He has directed the Construction Industry Development Board to investigate allegations that Moriel obtained several construction gradings on the same day.
The allegations further suggest that the company may not have satisfied the requirements for those gradings and that they were subsequently used to obtain government contracts.
Those claims have not been established.
Macpherson has instructed the CIDB to investigate the circumstances in which the gradings were issued and report its findings to him.
The CIDB investigation and SANRAL review therefore concern different questions.
The first examines the company’s regulatory grading history, while the second considers its appointment and performance under national roads contracts.
Viral video triggered wider scrutiny
The government investigations followed the circulation of footage recorded at Vlamo restaurant at Sandton Gate.
In the video, Mudzinganyama can be heard threatening women during an altercation.
Among the threats captured in the recording were statements that he would shoot and kill them.
Mudzinganyama subsequently apologised for his conduct.
Vlamo said he was not employed by, affiliated with or associated with the restaurant and that management removed him from the premises after becoming aware of the incident.
A criminal complaint was subsequently opened with the South African Police Service.
Mudzinganyama arrested and released on warning
Police subsequently arrested Mudzinganyama.
EWN reported on Monday that he had been released on warning and was expected to return to court on 1 October.
The criminal case arising from the restaurant incident is separate from the procurement and regulatory investigations involving Moriel.
The criminal allegations against Mudzinganyama must be determined through the courts.
The SANRAL and CIDB processes must separately determine whether the company complied with procurement, contractual and construction-industry requirements.
Company removes Mudzinganyama
Moriel Infrastructure Group has announced that Mudzinganyama has been removed as a director and executive chairman.
According to EWN, the company’s statement said the decision had been taken by its board.
The removal does not determine the outcome of either government investigation.
Both inquiries concern matters extending beyond Mudzinganyama’s current position within the company.
SANRAL is examining how Moriel was appointed and whether contractual obligations are being met, while the CIDB is investigating allegations about the company’s grading history.
SANRAL considers broader tender changes
SANRAL has also indicated that its response could extend beyond Moriel’s existing contracts.
Acting chief executive Lehlohonolo Memeza said the roads agency was reviewing its policies and standard tender documentation to consider provisions dealing with companies whose directors or senior managers are implicated in gender-based violence.
SANRAL also called on other public and private construction-sector bodies to consider mechanisms for dealing with companies whose senior figures are implicated in such conduct.
Any resulting exclusion mechanism would have to operate within South Africa’s procurement and administrative-law framework.
An allegation against a company official would also need to be distinguished from a criminal conviction or formal finding.
Parliament backs contract scrutiny
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport has supported Creecy’s decision to review Moriel’s contractual relationship with SANRAL.
Committee chairperson Donald Selamolela said the agency should examine not only the circumstances surrounding the contractor but also its performance under its state contracts.
The committee also called on state-owned companies to take action where people associated with contractors are implicated in violence against women.
Its statement does not constitute a finding that Moriel’s contracts were unlawfully awarded.
That remains the subject of SANRAL’s investigation.
Procurement scrutiny now extends beyond original incident
The response to the Sandton incident has therefore moved into three distinct processes.
Mudzinganyama faces a criminal case arising from the alleged threats.
SANRAL is investigating Moriel’s appointments and contractual compliance.
The CIDB is separately investigating allegations concerning the company’s construction gradings.
The two administrative investigations could have consequences beyond the conduct shown in the viral video if investigators identify irregularities in the company’s dealings with the state.
Equally, the reviews could find that the relevant procurement and grading requirements were met.
No conclusion can be drawn until those processes are completed.
Ministers await findings
Macpherson has asked the CIDB to report its findings at the earliest opportunity.
SANRAL has confirmed that its investigation has begun and that it is consulting lawyers regarding its contractual relationship with Moriel.
The next material development will therefore be a finding from either investigation, a contractual decision by SANRAL, action by the CIDB, or Mudzinganyama’s scheduled return to court.
Until then, the lawfulness of Moriel’s appointments and the allegations concerning its construction gradings remain matters under investigation.
