Johannesburg – A law firm has warned that construction sites should update their employment records ahead of anti-immigrant protests planned for Tuesday, 30 June 2026.
The protests are related to, among other perceived ills, the employment of foreign nationals.
Construction law specialist MDA Attorneys on Sunday, 28 June 2026, warned of possible disruptions – a direct threat to project delivery that these companies need to prepare for now.
The firm cautions that construction sites are vulnerable because they are generally more visible and physically open than most workplaces.
They are located in communities and involve a layered workforce mix of main contractors, subcontractors, labour brokers and temporary staff working side by side.
“If sites are disrupted, contractors could be looking at delays, blocked access, damaged property and costly disputes as we saw with previous disruption like the July 2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng and ongoing ‘construction mafia’ activity,” warned Odette Potgieter, MDA Attorneys director.
These events left contractors dealing with site closures, blocked or late deliveries, damaged property and long delays.
“Contractors were concerned about project profitability,” Potgieter said.
“They needed to establish whether they could claim extra time or costs from employers and insurers, and whether force majeure clauses covering events beyond their control were applicable.
“Contractors who had clear procedures, proper records and contract compliance got through it in far better shape, and a key element was giving the right notices, in time, to support claims.”
What contractors should do now
- Check that employment and contractor records are complete and up to date
- Confirm subcontractors have taken on responsibility for their own compliance, in writing
- Make sure site staff know who is legally allowed to request documents or access
- Establish clear site protocols
- Appoint one person to handle any engagement with outside groups
- Brief security teams on what to do and who to call if something happens
- Start keeping detailed records now: site diaries, photos, correspondence, programme updates and delivery records
- Engage clients
If disruption does happen
Depending on the contract, contractors may have the right to extra time, compensation or even pausing the work altogether but only if the right steps are followed, often within tight deadlines.
Most standard construction contracts set strict timelines and procedures, so missing deadlines can mean losing a valid claim altogether.
Keeping clear records, early engagement with clients, and keeping stakeholders updated as events unfold puts contractors in a far stronger position.
“The contractors who come out of situations like this are rarely the ones who react well on the day,” Potgieter said.
“They’re the ones who saw it coming, knew their risks, and had already taken practical steps ahead of the potential risk.”
