Construction mafia | Prosecutor: Entire country held to ransom by extortionists

CAMPERDOWN - The entire country is held to ransom by extortionists.

That’s one of the arguments made by the prosecution in the bail application hearing of five men accused of disrupting a bridge construction project in KwaXimba, KwaZulu-Natal.

The five men -- Andile Jiyane, Elias Phetha, Nhlanhla Makhathini, Sibonelo Khanyile and Thabani Nkomo -- appeared in the Camperdown magistrate’s court and face extortion charges.

READ: Suspected construction mafia members back in court

They deny they are part of the construction mafia, and say they only questioned why the project employed outsiders and not locals.

The bail application hearing continues on Friday.

• eNCA’s Siphamandla Goge reports.