Perceptions of corruption in the South African construction industry

Corruption continues to overshadow the fundamental contributions of the construction industry, preventing the delivery of infrastructure services. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate perceptions of corruption within the South African construction industry. The study population consisted of practitioners and clients in the private and public sectors operating in Johannesburg, South Africa, across seven councils and associations. Participants completed a self-administered survey consisting of 49 questions focusing on 10 key areas assessing corruption in construction. There were a total of 270 survey respondents. There was consensus among participants that bribery exists in the South African construction industry and that bribery discourages whistleblowing. A majority of respondents agreed that corruption affects economic growth of the South African construction industry. Respondents felt corruption led to late completion of projects, poor workmanship, and led to the use of sub-standard materials. Respondents agreed that poor procurement processes resulted in the appointment of incompetent contractors and that practitioners engage in unethical behavior due to desperation for work. Findings support, corruption is a major issue in the South African construction industry and approaches are needed to eradicate the corruption.