Moriel Infrastructure Group has been kicked off South Africa's official contractor list. The firm, tied to Zimbabwean businessman Lawrence Mudzinganyama, lost its registration after officials flagged issues with the way it got its building grade. The move also cuts off its right to bid for state jobs under that registration.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson confirmed the ban after a probe by the Construction Industry Development Board, or CIDB. And here's the thing. The probe had begun well before Mudzinganyama's name went viral for a separate legal mess.
Back in 2025, Moriel had already received a warning from the board. A second notice came after more checks. Macpherson made it clear in Pretoria that the online drama did not spark the probe, though the public buzz gave the case far more attention.
At issue was the firm's bid for a higher grade. CIDB ranks builders based on their money, skills, and track record. A better rank lets a firm bid for bigger jobs. But the board had doubts about whether Moriel gave a true account of what it could handle.
Other firms got cut from the list as well. Some had used false claims about past work or cash resources to gain a better rank. Moriel's case fits into that wider crackdown on firms accused of gaming the rules.
Meanwhile, Mudzinganyama has a whole separate court case in Sandton. A clip went viral after he allegedly made death threats against three women at Vlamo Restaurant. Reports claim the women had turned down his advances.
Police later took him into custody. He first walked free with a warning tied to an intimidation allegation, then secured bail of R10,000 at the Randburg Magistrate's Court.
And the case did not stop there. More witness accounts and video evidence led police to expand the charge sheet. Mudzinganyama faces 10 counts, with fraud, intimidation, crimen injuria, and assault with intent to cause serious physical harm among them.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson confirmed the ban after a probe by the Construction Industry Development Board, or CIDB. And here's the thing. The probe had begun well before Mudzinganyama's name went viral for a separate legal mess.
Back in 2025, Moriel had already received a warning from the board. A second notice came after more checks. Macpherson made it clear in Pretoria that the online drama did not spark the probe, though the public buzz gave the case far more attention.
At issue was the firm's bid for a higher grade. CIDB ranks builders based on their money, skills, and track record. A better rank lets a firm bid for bigger jobs. But the board had doubts about whether Moriel gave a true account of what it could handle.
Other firms got cut from the list as well. Some had used false claims about past work or cash resources to gain a better rank. Moriel's case fits into that wider crackdown on firms accused of gaming the rules.
Meanwhile, Mudzinganyama has a whole separate court case in Sandton. A clip went viral after he allegedly made death threats against three women at Vlamo Restaurant. Reports claim the women had turned down his advances.
Police later took him into custody. He first walked free with a warning tied to an intimidation allegation, then secured bail of R10,000 at the Randburg Magistrate's Court.
And the case did not stop there. More witness accounts and video evidence led police to expand the charge sheet. Mudzinganyama faces 10 counts, with fraud, intimidation, crimen injuria, and assault with intent to cause serious physical harm among them.
