The fifth National Contractor Development Roadshow has put South Africa’s emerging builders in the spotlight.

It opened a R300 million construction fund, offered free training, and warned fake contractors that their time is running out.

The same week, the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). blacklisted Moriel Group from state contracts among 60 non-performing contractors.

The message was aimed at building a thriving SA construction sector built on genuine capability.

Hosted at the Bloem Showgrounds on October 23, 2026, the National Contractor Development Roadshow is a collaborative nationwide campaign driven by the CIDB in close partnership with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).

It brought contractors, government and industry partners together to focus on practical support for emerging firms.

CIDB chairperson Khulule Nzo told delegates that technical skill alone does not keep a contractor afloat.

Contractors must also win work, manage staff, buy materials and stay financially viable amid shifting costs and late payments.

“Being able to build a structure and being able to build a sustainable business are two different things,” Nzo said.

“Both require technical expertise, sound management, access to finance, fair opportunities, reliable payments and an environment that supports successful delivery.”

What the R300 million construction fund offers emerging builders

Nzo named three priorities: building contractors’ capabilities, widening access to finance and protecting the integrity of the CIDB register.

On finance, he pointed to the R300 million construction fund set up by the CIDB and the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA).

It is meant to widen access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized construction enterprises.

Free training runs through the CIDB’s B.U.I.L.D Programme and its Certificate in Construction Management.

The roadshow did not confirm that any funding had been approved or contracts awarded.

SANRAL and Public Works also presented the Free State infrastructure pipeline.

Corobrik and the Independent Development Trust briefed participants as well.

CIDB cracks down on fake contractors and fraudulent gradings

Nzo said the CIDB is pursuing the deregistration of contractors who fraudulently obtained their cidb grading.

He linked the integrity of the register to incomplete projects and to contractors who fail to deliver the work they were appointed to do.

“We need real contractors. We need contractors that can do the work, serious in the business,” he said.

DPWI Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala backed that call.

He urged government to pay contractors who submit correct invoices, and he told contractors to reject fronting, price-fixing, collusion and site extortion.

Moriel Group blacklisted from state contracts

The training and graduation programme comes on the back of a tough stand by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, as it confirmed the debarment of 60 non-performing contractors.

Moriel Infrastructure Group was permanently blacklisted and deregistered from the National Register of Contractors by the CIDB.

Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson said the company misrepresented its financial and technical capabilities to secure high-level CIDB contractor gradings, including 8CE, 8SB and 8SK.

The cidb investigation began in 2025 and predates the public controversy around its owner, Lawrence Mudzinganyama.

He faces 10 criminal charges, including intimidation, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, crimen injuria and fraud.

The charges stem from a September 18, 2026 incident at a Sandton restaurant, where he allegedly threatened a group of women after they rejected his romantic advances.

An affidavit before the court records the alleged death threats, in which he warned the women he would shoot and kill them.

He was granted R15,000 bail with strict conditions, including surrendering his passport and reporting daily to police.

His matter was postponed to October 30, 2026. The blacklisting resulted in the company losing roughly R200 million worth of state business.

Moriel Infrastructure Group has since distanced itself from him, removing him as director and executive chairman.

Reviews have also been launched into the company’s existing state contracts, including with SANRAL.

NOWinSA reported from the October 15 bail appearance, as shown in the post below.

Reviews into Moriel’s existing state contracts continue.

Free State infrastructure pipeline puts delivery before contracts

Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae said infrastructure must be judged by what it delivers.

“Communities do not measure success by the number of tenders awarded or contracts signed,” she said.

“They measure success by whether infrastructure delivers value and improves their quality of life.”

For emerging contractors, the value of the roadshow will depend on whether they can actually access the R300 million construction fund and the free training discussed.

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