Ramaphosa Says Infrastructure Investment Central to South Africa’s Economic Growth

Cape Town, The Gulf Observer: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that infrastructure investment is central to the country’s efforts to accelerate economic growth, create jobs and strengthen regional integration across Southern Africa and the African continent.

Addressing the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2026, President Ramaphosa emphasized the need for interconnected infrastructure networks, including roads, bridges, railways, ports, power lines, data cables and gas pipelines, to support economic activity across the region.

He said such infrastructure should connect mines with factories, farms with markets, gas fields with industrial facilities, renewable energy projects with households and businesses, and companies with their customers.

The President said South Africa’s economic growth depended on reliable energy supplies, adequate water resources, efficient ports and railways, functional roads, digital connectivity and well-functioning cities and towns.

He also highlighted the direct impact of infrastructure on people’s daily lives, including access to clean water, sanitation, safe schools, affordable transport and essential services for businesses.

Ramaphosa said the government had undertaken measures to fundamentally improve the way infrastructure was planned, prepared, financed and delivered, acknowledging that the country’s infrastructure system had previously been too fragmented.

He noted that coordination had been strengthened through the Infrastructure Development Act and the work of Infrastructure South Africa, which is responsible for advancing the country’s strategic infrastructure pipeline.

The President said South Africa’s infrastructure investment remained below the level required to achieve faster and sustained economic growth. However, he noted that the estimated capital value of the Strategic Integrated Projects portfolio had increased from approximately R340 billion in 2020 to more than R1.67 trillion.

According to Ramaphosa, the current portfolio comprises 195 public- and private-sector infrastructure projects across priority sectors. Of these, 32 projects valued at approximately R48 billion have been completed, while 55 projects worth more than R407 billion are currently under construction.

He stressed the need to translate infrastructure plans into properly prepared projects, secure investment and construction, ultimately delivering infrastructure capable of supporting economic activity and improving living standards.

Ramaphosa identified inadequate project preparation as one of the major constraints facing infrastructure development in South Africa, saying the country did not lack infrastructure proposals but needed to ensure that projects were sufficiently developed to attract financing and move into implementation.

He highlighted the role of Infrastructure South Africa in coordinating and facilitating Strategic Integrated Projects across government, under its mandate established by the Infrastructure Development Act.

The President further said that Infrastructure South Africa’s R600 million project preparation facility had provided, or was providing, development support to 26 projects.

He described such assistance as particularly important as the government shifts greater attention toward municipal infrastructure delivery, which he said was essential both for effective public service delivery and inclusive economic growth.

The SIDSSA 2026 programme has brought together policymakers, investors, infrastructure specialists and other stakeholders to promote dialogue, strengthen partnerships and encourage collaboration on the future of infrastructure development.

More than 1,000 participants, including delegates from neighbouring countries, are attending the symposium, which concludes on August 25.