President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that the government will pump more than R1-trillion into public infrastructure over the next three years.
The R1-trillion infrastructure budget was first mentioned in the 2025/2026 Budget Speech.
Speaking at the 2025 Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) in Century City, Cape Town, on Tuesday, Ramaphosa described this as an infrastructure boom that will drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve the lives of millions of people.
Ramaphosa said the country was moving from outstanding ideas on paper to executable plans and implementation.
Highest public investment in infrastructure
“Infrastructure is the flywheel that our economy needs to boost growth and to create jobs,” Ramaphosa said.
“It serves as the backbone of economic growth and social progress and contributes to the improvement of the lives of our people.”
He highlighted the release of the 2024/2025 Construction Book by Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), which lists about 250 construction projects worth more than R238-billion.
These include road, energy, water, logistics and social infrastructure projects.
Ramaphosa said it marks the highest public investment in infrastructure in years, adding that these developments were essential not just for economic development but also to improve the quality of life.
“Public infrastructure in water supply, electricity, schools, and health clinics improves living standards and provides dignity to our people and fosters national unity,” he said.
To support infrastructure drives, he said, reforms are being introduced to make it easier and quicker to implement public-private partnerships.
Projects below R2-billion will now go through a simplified approval process.
Requests for permits and authorisation
He said these changes will significantly reduce procedural complexity and unlock investment from domestic and international financiers.
“We are working to mobilise all available capital, both domestic and international, towards this infrastructure boom,” said Ramaphosa.
He said that over the last five years, the ISA has successfully resolved over 75% of requests for permits and authorisations. It now averages 85 days to secure regulatory approvals.
A major part of the programme includes strategic integrated projects, whose combined value has risen from R340-billion in 2020 to over R1.3-trillion in 2025.
These projects span sectors such as energy, transportation, digital infrastructure, water, and human settlements.
Several major projects are already making a tangible difference. These include the Hazelmere Dam wall upgrade in KwaZulu-Natal, which has increased the water supply to urban and industrial users.
It also includes the Redstone Concentrated Solar Power Plant in the Northern Cape, which now supplies clean energy to over 100 000 households annually.
The Infrastructure Fund has also supported 26 blended financing projects worth about R102-billion, unlocking capital from pension funds, banks, and developmental institutions.
Priority infrastructure projects identified
The president noted that a more focused approach has led to the identification of 12 priority infrastructure projects, including the Namakwa and Nkomanzi special economic zones, the Amatola Bulk Water project, the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works, and Transnet’s Port of Ngqura LNG terminal.
“Over the past year, more than R600-million has been committed to preparing projects across municipalities and public entities,” said Ramaphosa.
Beyond national boundaries, he emphasised continental cooperation and praised the launch of the SIDSSA Leaders Forum in 2024.
The forum brings together African infrastructure ministers to coordinate efforts in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which represents a market of 1.3-billion people.
Ramaphosa further urged all stakeholders to place infrastructure at the heart of development.
“Coordinating an ambitious infrastructure build programme is not only a practical necessity; it is not only a practical necessity.
“It is also a transformative opportunity, a symbol of our hope for a better future,” the president said.
