Despite bold sustainability commitments, South Africa faces persistent challenges in turning plans into infrastructure projects that are bankable, deliverable, and resilient. In 2026, global trends show that execution — not aspiration — is the defining metric of infrastructure success. South Africa stands at a crossroads: will sustainability remain a vision, or become a measurable outcome?

Funding Gaps and Investment Challenges

While sustainable finance is growing across Africa, South Africa still struggles with a mismatch between infrastructure needs and available capital. Climate finance flows and sustainable debt are increasing, but they are insufficient to fully fund climate-resilient, socially inclusive infrastructure. Without bridging these gaps, even the most ambitious plans cannot become reality.

Fragmentation Across Policy, Planning and Procurement

Industry leaders consistently point to fragmentation as a key obstacle. Silos across policy, planning, procurement and execution weaken accountability, delay projects, and limit value creation. Public and private stakeholders often operate in isolation, making integrated, bankable infrastructure difficult to achieve.

Maintenance, Networks and Infrastructure Performance

GIBB General Manager: Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management, Ntshavheni Phidza, highlighted how underinvestment, inadequate maintenance, and constrained transport and logistics networks continue to limit project success. Infrastructure’s declining contribution to GDP underscores the urgency of smarter investment prioritisation and long-term planning.

Weak Enforcement and Inclusive Procurement Barriers

Transformation challenges exacerbate delivery struggles. Danny Masimene, President of the Black Business Council in the Built Environment, pointed to weak enforcement of procurement laws and highly concentrated supply chains as barriers to emerging players. Lowest-cost procurement models often undermine quality, resilience, and measurable social impact — critical elements for sustainable, bankable projects.

Governance and Professional Accountability Gaps

Declining professional standards and limited accountability threaten both project quality and public trust. Prof Lufuno Ratsiku, President of the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions, emphasised that performance-based contracts, enforceable oversight, and skills development are essential to achieving deliverable infrastructure.

Moving Toward People-Centred, Bankable Infrastructure

The path forward requires a decisive shift toward inclusive, bottom-up planning models that reflect local needs. By integrating governance, investment, skills development, and ecosystem-based collaboration, South Africa can move from sustainability commitments to bankable, deliverable projects that drive economic growth, social equity, and climate resilience.

Summary

Key Challenges:

• Fragmented planning, policy, and procurement
• Funding gaps in sustainable infrastructure and climate adaptation
• Weak enforcement of procurement legislation
• Underinvestment and inadequate maintenance
• Skills and governance deficits

Critical Opportunities:

• Integrated ecosystem-based infrastructure planning
• Public-private collaboration to unlock capital and efficiency
• Inclusive procurement models prioritising resilience and impact
• Performance-based contracts with enforceable oversight