South Africa’s planned R1-trillion infrastructure programme is undoubtedly a chance to revive the struggling construction sector and to stimulate industrialisation.
After more than a decade of weak demand and ongoing deindustrialisation, however, realising this potential will require a combination of ambition and pragmatism, together with a relentless focus on execution.
At present, nowhere is the gap between ambition and execution bigger than in infrastructure; a reality underlined by a recent Infrastructure South Africa analysis showing that fewer than one in five advertised tenders were actually awarded in 2025.
Without credible execution, including through the awarding of tenders, the big infrastructure commitment will become meaningless.
The first priority must therefore be actual implementation, anchored in proper project preparation.
