Key shifts within the infrastructure development landscape mean positive tailwinds for South Africa’s construction industry, with R322.2 billion currently planned for public infrastructure projects in 2025 alone.
According to Roelof van den Berg, CEO of the Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC), this comes as technological advancements and evolving market dynamics drive important innovations, new streamlined regulations for public-private partnerships (PPP) cut project approval times, and government turns its focus to transforming South Africa into a “construction site”.
“These changes mark the start of what former Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is said to have called the ‘infrastructure years’ – a period that could reshape the country’s built environment more dramatically than any time in the past decade,” he says.
“The benefit of this for communities could be exponential. Not only does it mean expanded service delivery, but the construction industry, as a major employer and economic contributor, will also thrive. A rapid influx of new projects supported and driven by public-private partnerships could act as the lever needed to accelerate economic growth.”
Looking to the year ahead, van den Berg points to three trends likely to shape and influence the industry:
- Increased government investment and regulatory changes
Building on the reported 82 strategic integrated projects (SIPs) valued at R437 billion currently under construction, the industry anticipates substantial increases in public infrastructure spending, with significant implications for job creation and socio-economic development.
As outlined within the 2024 National Budget Speech, spending in the 2025/2026 financial year will strategically target specific developmental areas critical to progress. The top three areas of spending will be transport and logistics, with R115.1 billion allocated to strengthening port, rail, and road infrastructure; energy, with R70.5 billion; and water and sanitation infrastructure, with R57.6 billion.
Rises in public spending will be further complemented by the commitment reinforced in the recent Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), which promised far-reaching regulatory reforms to reduce complex red tape, stimulate infrastructure investments, and expedite project rollouts.
Additionally, the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) will shift from one annual window to continuous evaluation, ensuring a more regular and predictable pipeline.
“These changes mean fewer barriers, predictable timelines, a healthier project pipeline, and more stable deals – all translating into stronger incentives and better margins for private infrastructure developers, as well as greater value for public sector clients,” notes van den Berg.
- Purpose-built homes for solar, and EV integration
In terms of innovations, the growing affordability of solar systems, and the rising emphasis on environmentally-friendly energy solutions, it’s likely that there will be a strong demand for “green” homes.
“In response, next year will likely see a more pronounced shift toward integrating renewable energy systems directly into the design and construction of new homes,” he states.
“Instead of owners adding solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) chargers after the fact, developers will increasingly integrate these features from the project’s outset. Expect dedicated wiring conduits, pre-installed charging ports in garages, inverters hidden in utility rooms, and roof angles optimised for peak solar capture.”
Additionally, as electric vehicles (EVs) enter the mainstream, forward-thinking developers will anticipate the charging needs of future residents. Integrated EV infrastructure in new builds will accelerate South Africa’s EV market by removing key adoption barriers – if a buyer knows they can charge at home without expensive retrofitting, opting for an EV becomes simpler and more cost-effective, making these homes more attractive to buyers.
- Technology-driven efficiencies in construction
Under the weight of global supply chain pressures, rising material costs, and persistent inflation, the construction industry will be compelled to move beyond incremental improvements, and embrace new levels of technology-driven efficiency.
Statistics South Africa’s latest construction input price index (CIPI) reveals, for example, that while total costs rose an average of just 3.4% year-on-year in October 2024, a number of essential materials and inputs have seen substantial increases in expense. Construction pipes, tubes, and fittings surged 13.9% year-on-year, bricks by 7.9%, electrical components by 11.4%, and plants and equipment by 7.7%.
“Intense competition within the industry means that companies will have to rely more heavily on advanced tools and AI to streamline processes, optimise procurement, and protect profit margins. This shift will be crucial in delivering projects faster, more affordably, and with greater reliability,” explains van den Berg.
For instance, firms can integrate digital procurement processes and logistics, automate operations with drones and machine-led fabrication, incorporate prefabricated components, and upskill teams to leverage real-time data analytics. These measures will reduce waste, accelerate delivery, enhance on-site safety, and enable continuous refinement of project strategies, helping South African developers meet intensified market demands more efficiently and cost-effectively than ever before.
“Ultimately, the general outlook for 2025 is optimistic and we expect enormous opportunities for the industry. Some risks remain, but if construction businesses and infrastructure developers remain agile and innovation-focussed, we may see a new boom in the industry with enormous benefits for the country as a whole,” he concludes.
