South African Business 2026

SOUTH AFRICAN
BUSINESS
2026 EDITION
THE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG
NORTH WEST
NORTHERN CAPE
LIMPOPO
MPUMALANGA
FREE STATE
EASTERN CAPE
WESTERN CAPE
KWAZULU-NATAL
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To be an African
University Leading in
Creating Opportunities for
Sustainable Development
Through Innovation
81
Qualifications
2 Higher Certificates
6 Diplomas
13 Bachelor’s Degrees
7 Advanced Diplomas
4 Postgraduate Diplomas
27 Honours Degrees
16 Masters Degrees
6 Doctoral Degrees
11 885
Students
SADC 99.98%
International 0.02%
26.67%
2 Campuses
Mbombela Campus
Siyabuswa Campus
1.80%
10.88%
44.32%
0.12%
1.14% 10.31%
Registered Students
63% Female
37% Male
4.15%
0.52%
Creating Opportunities

Creating Opportunities

CITY THAT’S
GEARED
FOR GROWTH
A true smart city, Durban is the largest economy on the east
coast of Africa, seamlessly combining an innovative business
environment with an exciting and contemporary lifestyle.
Home to Africa’s premier port and the continent’s very first
Aerotropolis.
Our top ranked conferencing city boasts world-class
infrastructure and a thriving industrial development zone catering for
agro-processing, time sensitive manufacturing products, as well as
modern road and rail infrastructure. Connecting continents, Durban’s
state-of-the-art international airport serves passengers as well as air
freight, ensuring unparalleled access to global supply chains. Constantly
evolving and rich in business opportunities, it is time to invest in Durban!
…We can help you make it happen, now.
WHY DURBAN?
Home to about 3,5
million people 1
Third largest metropolis in the country –
after Johannesburg and Cape Town
Total area size is approximately
2 297 square kilometres
2
3

A THRIVING HUB OF
BUSINESS AND LEISURE,
DURBAN IS ONE OF AFRICA’S
MOST LIVEABLE CITIES.
Tel: +27 31 311 4227
Email: invest@durban.gov.za
Web: invest.durban
#investdurban

OR TAMBO SEZ
PRECINCT 2
INFRASTRUCTURE IS UNDER
CONSTRUCTION AT ORTIA SEZ PRECINCT 2
Located on the doorstep of OR Tambo
International Airport, a world-class Special
Economic Zone (SEZ) is expanding – and
your business can take off with it.
WHY ORTIA PRECINCT 2?
Because global competitiveness starts with worldclass
location, seamless logistics and the right
incentives.
• 6 000+ operational jobs
• 7 557 construction jobs
• R1.8-billion contribution to South Africa’s GDP
Located directly alongside OR Tambo International,
ORTIA Precinct 2 offers unmatched access to air
freight, making it the ideal hub for the production
and export of air-freightable products.
With nearly R1-billion invested and 2 500+ jobs
already created in Precinct 1, the new precinct is
scaling up to deliver:
This is industrial development designed for impact.
In addition to its logistical advantages and scale,
ORTIA Precinct 2 offers SEZ incentives:
VAT exemption on manufactured exports
Zero-rated VAT on qualifying inputs
Employment Tax Incentive (ETI)
Access to high-spec, modern
industrial infrastructure

The most competitive location for advanced
manufacturing next to a major airport
Last but not least, ORTIA Precinct 2 is purposebuilt
for high-value, lightweight manufacturing
– especially pharmaceuticals and medical
technologies.
Investors gain access to:
• Shared laboratory facilities
• Cold-chain and temperature-controlled storage
• Close proximity to regulators
• Custom-built common-use infrastructure
• An ecosystem designed to accelerate
innovation, efficiency and compliance
A 265 000M² OPPORTUNITY
BUILT FOR GLOBAL AMBITION
WE’RE READY.
ARE YOU?
The Gauteng Industrial Development Zone
(GIDZ), a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and
Development Agency (GGDA), is your investment
partner at the OR Tambo SEZ. From site facilitation
to regulatory support, we work with you every step
of the way.
With the Gauteng Investment Conference set for
April 2026, now is the moment to secure your space
in South Africa’s most connected industrial precinct.
OR TAMBO SEZ, OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Engage with us today and unlock your next
investment opportunity: www.ortambosez.co.za

CONTENTS
South African Business 2026 Edition
Introduction
Foreword 8
A unique guide to business and investment in South Africa.
Special features
An economic overview of South Africa 10
As turbulence caused by tariffs roiled the world economy,
some big South African names in the mining and engineering
sectors departed the scene. Renewable energy holds enormous
promise and the hosting of the G20 Summit meant that the
global spotlight was on Johannesburg and South Africa.
Provinces of South Africa 16
A snapshot of South Africa’s nine provinces.
Special Economic Zones – integrated drivers
of regional and national transformation 22
The framework for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in South Africa is
being re-examined in the light of lessons learnt and current realities.
Economic sectors
Agriculture 32
Energy boost for diversification in the sugar sector.
Mining 34
Anglo American is no more.
Energy 38
The private sector is investing in the grid.
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
6

THE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
|
2
Oil and gas 42
A new state-owned company has been formed.
Engineering 44
SRK Consulting celebrates five decades.
Manufacturing 48
There are big changes in the steel sector.
Construction and property 50
An association for renters has been launched.
Water 51
Water boards have been consolidated.
Telecommunications 52
Competition Appeal Court approves big merger.
ICT 53
Rural schools are getting connected.
Tourism 54
African arrivals are boosting the tourism sector.
Banking and financial services 55
Banks are competing for SME business.
Development finance and SMME support 56
Giving new meaning to building a business.
Education and skills training 58
A university spinoff is in orbit.
Transport and logistics 60
Private operators will run parts of the rail network
CONTENTS
Introduction to Brand South Africa
SOUTH AFRICAN
BUSINESS
GAUTENG
LIMPOPO
EASTERN CAPE
JOIN US ONLINE
NORTH WEST
MPUMALANGA
WESTERN CAPE
NORTHERN CAPE
FREE STATE
KWAZULU-NATAL
WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM
Nation ABOUT Branding THE COVER: Gauteng, Gautrain
(Gautrain Management Agency); North West,
Brand South Africa Platforms & Programmes
The Palace of the Lost City (Sun International);
Highlights of Brand South Africa Initiatives
Northern Cape, Castle Wind Farm (ACED);
Limpopo, Marula mine (Implats); Mpumalanga,
Bourke’s Luck Potholes (SA Tourism); Eastern
Cape, Msikaba Bridge (Concor); Free State,
Maize (Free State Development Corporation);
Western Cape, Queen Anne (Wesgro);
KwaZulu-Natal, Forestry (FSA).
2026 EDITION
SOUTH AFRICAN BRANDS
INSPIRE A BETTER NATION
South African brands continue to shape the continent’s image and competitiveness, with 32%
of the country’s most admired brands being homegrown. According to the 15th annual Brand
Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands rankings by Kantar, GeoPoll and Brand Leadership, South
Africa remains the continent’s leading hub for industrialisation, entrepreneurship, and brand
excellence.
Brand South Africa, the official marketing agency of the Republic, plays a key role in cultivating
an environment where these brands thrive; positioning South Africa as a confident and proud
global African competitive nation.
#GrowWithSouthAfrica
#ThisIsWhyWeMatter
#BelieveInSA

FOREWORD
South African Business
A unique guide to business and investment in South Africa.
Credits
Publishing director: Chris Whales
Editor: John Young
Managing director: Clive During
Online editor: Christoff Scholtz
Design:
Elmethra de Bruyn, Simon Lewis
Production: Ashley van Schalkwyk
Project manager: Chris Hoffman
Account managers:
Gabriel Venter
Vanessa Wallace
Sam Oliver
Gavin van der Merwe
Administration & accounts:
Charlene Steynberg
Kathy Wootton
Sharon Angus-Leppan
Distribution and
circulation manager:
Edward MacDonald
Printing: FA Print
Welcome to the 14th edition of the South African Business
journal. First published in 2011, the publication has
established itself as the premier business and investment
guide to South Africa, supported by an e-book edition at
www.globalafricanetwork.com.
This edition carries a special feature on the changing role of
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as the Department of Trade, Industry
and Competition (the dtic) carries out a consultation process designed
to improve the functioning and usefulness of these areas which are
intended to promote manufacturing for export and to diversify the
economy, among other goals. The Namakwa SEZ in the Northern Cape
is the latest area to be officially designated, with high hopes riding on a
partnership with Vedanta Zinc International as the potential economic
driver of related industries in the area.
As this journal goes to print, South Africa is readying itself to host
the G20 Summit, a huge opportunity to present the country and its
economy in a good light to an influential audience.
South African Business is complemented by nine regional
publications covering the business and investment environment in
each of South Africa’s provinces. The e-book editions can be viewed
online at www.globalafricanetwork.com. These unique titles are
supported by a monthly business e-newsletter with a circulation of
over 35 000. The Journal of African Business joined the Global Africa
Network stable of publications as an annual in 2020 and is now
published quarterly. ■
Chris Whales
Publisher, Global Africa Network | Email: chris@gan.co.za
DISTRIBUTION
South African Business is distributed internationally on outgoing
and incoming trade missions, through trade and investment
agencies; to foreign offices in South Africa’s main trading
partners around the world; at top national and international
events; through the offices of foreign representatives in
South Africa; as well as nationally and regionally via chambers
of commerce, tourism offices, airport lounges, provincial
government departments, municipalities and companies.
PUBLISHED BY
Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd
Company Registration No: 2004/004982/07
Directors: Clive During, Chris Whales
Physical address: 28 Main Road, Rondebosch 7700
Postal address: PO Box 292, Newlands 7701
Tel: +27 21 657 6200
Email: info@gan.co.za | Website: www.gan.co.za
Member of the Audit Bureau
of Circulations ISSN 2221-4194
COPYRIGHT | South African Business is an independent publication
published by Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. Full copyright to the
publication vests with Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. No part
of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the written
permission of Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd.
PHOTO CREDITS |
BWUA; Cementation Africa; Coega SEZ; CubeSpace; Danieli Group;
De Beers Group; ELIDZ; Genergy; Grindrod; GWK; Jeka Energy; Mahindra
South Africa; Malben Engineering; Net Nine Nine; Old Mutual; property24;
SANParks; SAPREF; Shesha/Facebook; Sibanye-Stillwater; Standard Bank;
University of Mpumalanga; Premier Hotels & Spa; Wesgro; John Young.
DISCLAIMER | While the publisher, Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd,
has used all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained
in South African Business is accurate and up-to-date, the publishers make
no representations as to the accuracy, quality, timeliness, or completeness
of the information. Global Africa Network will not accept responsibility for
any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use of or any reliance placed
on such information.
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
8

Murray & Roberts Cementation became
Cementation Africa in June 2025.
AN ECONOMIC OVERVIEW OF
SOUTH AFRICA
As turbulence caused by tariffs roiled the world economy, some
big South African names in the mining and engineering sectors
departed the scene. Renewable energy holds enormous promise
and the hosting of the G20 Summit meant that the global spotlight
was on Johannesburg and South Africa.
By John Young
Donald Trump’s presidency has created
great uncertainty in the world. South
Africa suffered its share of tariff secondguessing
but there were other major
changes that happened within the national
economy that were not related to a return to
protectionism by the world’s biggest economy.
Two business brands that dominated the South
African economic landscape of the 20th century
almost disappeared in 2025 but there are signs
that new sectors, most notably renewable energy,
will step up to create opportunities.
Both Anglo American and Murray & Roberts
began life in the early years of the century
and played big roles in the industrialisation of
the Union of South Africa (from 1910) and the
Republic of South Africa (after 1961). Anglo
diversified beyond its initial foray into mining into
every conceivable part of the national economy,
to the extent that in the 1970s its subsidiaries
accounted for about 60% of the value of the
Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
After turning back to mining as the century
reached an end, Anglo American has more
recently sought to intensify its focus still further,
even going so far as to sell its stake in De Beers
Group, proving that diamonds are not, in reality,
forever, at least not as an asset class. In 2025, a
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
10
PHOTO: Cementation Africa

SPECIAL FEATURE
merger with Canadian company Teck Resources
was announced. The resulting Anglo Teck expects
to be a global top-five copper producer, with
headquarters in Canada and listings on the LSE,
JSE, TSX and NYSE4. Anglo’s significant holdings
in iron ore in South Africa will remain as an
important part of the merged company.
After an initial focus on construction, Murray &
Roberts grew into a large engineering group with
multiple divisions and subsidiaries in Australia,
the US and South America. A business rescue
plan has been implemented to save the various
subsidiaries of Murray & Roberts Holdings, with
the major mining asset being acquired by the
Differential Capital consortium and rebranded as
Cementation Africa. Engineering and contracted
services to the mining sector are this company’s
main business.
As of June 2025, South Africa’s plan to invite
investors to create renewable-energy plants, the
Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer
Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) had attracted
R292-billion in investment across 111 wind and
solar farms with a generation capacity of
8 000MW, with a further 3 000MW from 21
approved investments closing in on finalisation
(Engineering News). All across South Africa,
solar panels are being installed on roofs of
shopping malls and factories and “wheeling”
is proving tremendously popular. Wheeling
allows independent power producers (IPPs) to
sell energy to mines or other big energy users
and “wheel” the power along the national grid.
The transaction is a book entry rather than actual
electrons being exchanged. A dedicated company,
the National Transmission Company South Africa
(NTCSA), has been formed to facilitate access to
the grid and although it is a subsidiary of national
utility Eskom, is supposed to act independently.
The great challenge facing the nation’s energy
planners now relates to grid capacity, a problem
that is facing many parts of the world, especially
in places where extraordinary demands are
being made by data centres hungry for power.
South Africa’s particular challenge is to beef up
the grid in provinces that have the best potential
for solar power (Northern Cape) and wind power
(Eastern Cape). Wind at a greater height has been
found as one solution in Mpumalanga where
Seriti Green is building the 900MW Ummbila
Emoyeni hybrid renewable-energy facility, which
will become the largest of its kind in South Africa.
The most significant step to strengthening
the grid is in the direction of public-private
partnership with national government
announcing an Independent Transmission Projects
Programme (ITPP), which mirrors the REIPPPP.
Operated by the Department of Electricity and
Energy (DEE) and National Treasury, the scheme
includes a Credit Guarantee Vehicle.
President Cyril Ramaphosa remained president
of South Africa after the elections of 29 May
2024, but only with the support of a coalition
of 10 political parties which has been called
a Government of National Unity (GNU). As of
November 2025, the coalition was holding,
although with signs of tension quite evident along
the way.
Representing 70% of the voters who turned
out for the election, the new government covers
a wide spectrum of political standpoints and
crucially contains parties that are committed to
the country’s constitution and to the rule of law.
In the National Assembly elections for the position
of president, Ramaphosa received 86.5% of the
votes of Members of Parliament.
The African National Congress (ANC), which
was seen as the party of liberation and had been
the governing party since the first democratic
Solar panels are being installed at scale across
South Africa.
PHOTO: Genergy
11 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

Marakele National Park. South Africa’s tourist offering is spectacular.
election of 1994, saw its vote share drop in 2024
to just over 40%, having garnered more than 57%
in 2019. While the ANC historically has a socialist
orientation, the largest other party in the coalition,
the Democratic Alliance (DA), is inclined to argue
for minimal government intervention in the
economy. As the DA’s website states, “Government
must always stand ready to help those who need
it, but its primary function is to empower the
people to make use of their freedoms, so that they
may progress in their own lives.”
Marrying these two views on economics
presented some difficulties as the government
set out in 2024, but if the focus remains on fixing,
maintaining and building infrastructure, then the
chances of continuing as a governing coalition
will remain strong.
The spirit of cooperation which created the
GNU has also been evident in the business
community, where an initiative of many of the
country’s chief executive officers is supporting
state entities in tackling infrastructure problems.
There have been good signs of progress
regarding electricity availability, port logjams
being cleared and security improvements on
important rail links.
Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) hired 200
additional cargo coordinators and port workers
to support citrus exports in the 2024 reefer season.
Citrus exports account for more than 50% of
agricultural exports and contribute R43-billion
to South Africa’s GDP. Volumes increased by 10%
year-on-year for the first six weeks of the 2024/25
financial year, a year in which TPT will spend
R3.9-billion on new equipment.
Global stage
In 2023, South Africa hosted the BRICS Summit. As
of 1 December 2024, South Africa held the
presidency of the G20, becoming the third
BRICS nation in a row to hold that position after
India and Brazil.
In November 2025, President Ramaphosa
welcomed many of the world’s most influential
leaders to the G20 Summit, an unprecedented
opportunity to raise the country’s profile. In the
days leading up to the summit, Ramaphosa met
with the Pope in Rome and a number of events
were held related to the event. Business leaders
(the B20) met on various topics in several parts
of South Africa and an agriculture-related meeting
was held in Limpopo, a tourism-related meeting
was hosted in the Kruger National Park in
Mpumalanga while finance ministers and central
bank governors met in Durban.
South Africa has burnished its reputation for
hosting global events through the FIFA World
Cup, the World Conference against Racism, COP17
and various other conferences that have been
well run. South Africa adopted as the theme for
its G20 Presidency “Solidarity, Equality and
Sustainable Development”.
As President Ramaphosa told a G20 meeting
under Brazil’s presidency that with just a short
time before the deadline date of the UN
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it
would make sense to have a tight focus on the
programme of Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) in the years leading up to 2030. According
to Ramaphosa, just 12% of SDGs are on target and
progress on 50% is “weak and insufficient”. ■
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
12
PHOTO: SANParks

WWW.NORTHERNCAPEBUSINESS.CO.ZA
ONLINE JOIN S US ONLINE
WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM | WWW.NORTHERNCAPEBU
| | 10 REASONS
WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN SOUTH AFRICA
01.
HOT EMERGING
MARKET
Growing middle class, affluent consumer
base, excellent returns on investment.
02.
MOST DIVERSIFIED
ECONOMY IN AFRICA
South Africa (SA) has the most industrialised economy in Africa.
It is the region’s principal manufacturing hub and a leading
services destination.
LARGEST PRESENCE OF MULTINATIONALS
ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT
SA is the location of choice of multinationals in Africa.
03.
Global corporates reap the benefits of doing business in
SA, which has a supportive and growing ecosystem as a
hub for innovation, technology and fintech.
05.
FAVOURABLE ACCESS TO
GLOBAL MARKETS
ADVANCED FINANCIAL SERVICES
& BANKING SECTOR
SA has a sophisticated banking sector with a major
footprint in Africa. It is the continent’s financial hub,
with the JSE being Africa’s largest stock exchange by
market capitalisation.
The African Continental Free Trade Area will boost
intra-African trade and create a market of over one
billion people and a combined gross domestic product
(GDP) of USD2.2-trillion that will unlock industrial
development. SA has several trade agreements in
place as an export platform into global markets.
07.
YOUNG, EAGER LABOUR FORCE
09.
SA has a number of world-class universities and colleges
producing a skilled, talented and capable workforce. It
boasts a diversified skills set, emerging talent, a large pool
of prospective workers and government support for training
and skills development.
04.
06.
08.
PROGRESSIVE
CONSTITUTION
& INDEPENDENT
JUDICIARY
SA has a progressive Constitution and an independent judiciary. The
country has a mature and accessible legal system, providing certainty
and respect for the rule of law. It is ranked number one in Africa for the
protection of investments and minority investors.
ABUNDANT NATURAL
RESOURCES
SA is endowed with an abundance of natural resources. It is the leading producer
of platinum-group metals (PGMs) globally. Numerous listed mining companies
operate in SA, which also has world-renowned underground mining expertise.
WORLD-CLASS
INFRASTRUCTURE
AND LOGISTICS
A massive governmental investment programme in infrastructure development
has been under way for several years. SA has the largest air, ports and logistics
networks in Africa, and is ranked number one in Africa in the World Bank’s
Logistics Performance Index.
10.
SA offers a favourable cost of living, with a diversified cultural, cuisine and
sports offering all year round and a world-renowned hospitality sector.
EXCELLENT QUALITY
OF LIFE
Page | 2
719
SOUTH SOUTH AFRICAN AFRICAN BUSINESS BUSINESS 20232020

Creating opportunities
The University of Mpumalanga is innovating in
support of sustainable development.
The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) is a
comprehensive university which offers a
variety of undergraduate and postgraduate
studies in the fields of Agriculture, Nature
Conservation, Hospitality and Tourism Management,
Information Communication Technology, Development
Studies, Early Childhood Education, Arts, Administration
and Economics. UMP offers qualifications from Higher
Certificates to Doctoral Degrees.
UMP was established in 2013 and enrolled the
first cohort of 169 students in February 2014 in three
programmes: Bachelor of Education (Foundation
Phase Teaching), Bachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural
Extension and Rural Resource Development, and
Diploma in ICT.
The University has experienced rapid and gratifying
growth since its establishment with 11 754 enrolled
students in 2025 and offering 81 programmes
accredited by the Council on Higher Education.
The University celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023
under the theme: A Decade of Excellence and Creating
Opportunities.
Outstanding attributes of the University include inter
alia its iconic infrastructure, the highly regarded Centre
for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubation, its prominent
suite of national and international partnerships in
support of both undergraduate education and
postgraduate studies and research and a unique and
recognised approach to engagement.
Vision
To be an African University leading in creating
opportunities for sustainable development through
innovation.
Mission
To offer high-quality educational and training
opportunities that foster the holistic development of
students through teaching and learning, research and
scholarship and engagement, in collaboration with
strategic partners.
Teaching and Learning – taking centre stage to
advance the academic project
Teaching and Learning at UMP focusses on the
development of our students as independent and
critical thinkers with a passion for knowledge and its
application. Our approach to teaching is theoretically
informed, pedagogically appropriate and sensitive
to diversity in all its forms in the educational
environment. Therefore, continuously developing
qualifications and curricula are context responsive.
UMP has been able to attract and retain established
academics in various disciplines. Currently 52% of
UMP academic staff have doctoral degrees. As part
of student support, First Time Entering students
(FTEN) are supported in the transition from school
to university by a well-developed Orientation Week
and a First Year Experience (FYE). Ongoing support
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
14

FOCUS
is provided by peer mentors and tutors. As a result
of these interventions, student success is generally
high with a pass rate ranging from 80% to 85% over
the years.
The University seeks to produce quality graduates
who have a sound knowledge of their discipline and
are:
• resourceful, responsive and responsible
• innovative and entrepreneurial
• confident and effective communicators
• ethically and socially aware change agents
• adaptable
UMP has graduated 8 045 students
since its establishment.
Research and Innovation – generating new
knowledge in support of social and economic
development
UMP conducts research that contributes to local,
regional, national and global sustainability. Focussing
on research has placed UMP in an advanced position
among the institutions of higher learning despite it
being one of the two new universities established
in post-apartheid South Africa. We have developed
rapidly in terms of research capacity development,
research disciplines, national and international
research partnerships, and research outputs.
The University’s current research areas of interest
include agriculture, biological and environmental
sciences, information and communication
technology (ICT), developmental studies, hospitality
management and tourism and education. Among
some of the key research highlights since our
establishment includes being awarded the National
Research Foundation (NRF) Excelleration Award in
2022 which acknowledges South African research
institutions for achieving the most improved
research performance. In 2023 UMP was awarded
the National Research Foundation (NRF) CEO’s
Special Recognition Award, which recognises a
South African research institution that has previously
won the Excelleration Award and has continued its
progress and commitment to excellence in research
performance. Our NRF Rated Researchers have
increased from one in 2014 to 13 in 2023.
State-of-the-art library with socially interactive
space
UMP has a state-of-the-art library with socially
interactive space that strikes a balance between
quiet, collaborative, virtual, research and communal
spaces. The library ensures its relevance and
responsiveness to the university’s objectives of
teaching, learning, research and community
engagement, all in the midst of rapid changes in
technology in higher education. It has grown its
collection and service offering progressively over
the last few years, an evolution that has been relative
to the increased number of students and staff within
the university. ■
Connect with us
• Instagram: @unimpumalanga
• Twitter: @unimpumalanga
• Facebook: @UniMpumalanga
• LinkedIn: @University of Mpumalanga
• Website: www.ump.ac.za
Find us
• Mbombela Campus:
Cnr R40 and D725 Roads, Mbombela 1200
• Siyabuswa Campus:
Bheki Mfundo Drive, Siyabuswa, South Africa
• Switchboard: 013 002 0049/50
• Email: info@ump.ac.za
15 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

SPECIAL FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURE
Provinces of of South Africa
A snapshot A snapshot of South of South Africa’s Africa’s nine nine provinces. provinces.
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
Eastern Eastern Cape Cape
Free Free State State
Gauteng Gauteng
Capital: Bhisho
Capital: Bloemfontein
Capital: Johannesburg
Capital: Bhisho
Capital: Bloemfontein
Capital: Johannesburg
Main Capital: towns: Bhisho Gqeberha (formerly Main Capital: towns: Bloemfontein
Welkom, Sasolburg, Main Capital: towns: Johannesburg
Tshwane
Main towns: Port Gqeberha Elizabeth, (formerly East
Main towns: Welkom, Sasolburg,
Main towns: Tshwane
Port Main Elizabeth), towns: East Port London, Elizabeth, East Parys, Main Kroonstad towns: Welkom, Sasolburg, (including Main towns: Pretoria), Tshwane Ekurhuleni,
London, Port Elizabeth), Uitenhage, East London, Graaff-
Parys, Kroonstad
(including Pretoria), Ekurhuleni,
Kariega London, (formerly Uitenhage, Uitenhage), Graaff- Parys, Kroonstad
Reinet, Kariega Mthatha, (formerly Grahamstown
Uitenhage),
Vanderbijlpark, (including Pretoria), Roodepoort Ekurhuleni,
Vanderbijlpark, Roodepoort
Graaff-Reinet, Mthatha, Mthatha, Grahamstown
Makhanda
Vanderbijlpark, Roodepoort
(Makhanda)
Graaff-Reinet, Mthatha, Makhanda
Population: (Makhanda)
Population:
6 916 916
200 200
(2015)
(2015) Population: Population: 2 817
817 900
900 (2015)
(2015)
Population:
Population: 13
13 200
200 300
300 (2015)
(2015)
Area: Population: Area:
168 168
966km² 6 966km²
(13.8% 916 200 (2015)
(13.8%
Area:
Population: Area: 129
129 825km²
2 817
825km² (10.6%
900 (2015)
(10.6%
Area:
Area: Population: 18
18 178km²
178km² 13 (1.5%
(1.5% 200 300 (2015)
of of
South Area: South
Africa) 168 966km² (13.8%
Area: 129 825km² (10.6%
Africa)
of of South
South Africa)
Africa)
of
of South
South Area: 18 Africa)
Africa) 178km² (1.5%
of South Africa)
of South Africa)
of South Africa)
Premier:
Premier:
Premier:
Premier:
Premier: Premier:
Lubabalo Premier:
Lubabalo Oscar Oscar Mabuyane (ANC) Premier:
Maqueen Sefora Mxolisi Hixsonia Dukwana Joyce Letsoha-Mathae Ntombela (ANC) (ANC) (ANC) David Panyaza Panyaza Premier:
Makhura Lesufi Lesufi (ANC)
(ANC)
Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane (ANC) Sefora Hixsonia Ntombela (ANC) David Makhura (ANC)
Key Key sectors: Automotive,
Key sectors: Agriculture,
Key Key sectors: Financial and and banking, banking,
agriculture, Key sectors: agro-processing,
Automotive,
Key sectors: Agriculture,
agri-processing,
agro-processing, agri-processing, chemical
banking, manufacturing,
Key sectors: Financial
manufacturing, trade, trade, creative
and
trade,
forestry, agriculture, finance, agri-processing,
retail, tourism, agri-processing, chemical
manufacturing, mining, transport creative industries,
banking,
industries, media.
manufacturing, trade,
media.
renewable
forestry, energy.
finance, retail, tourism, manufacturing, mining, transport creative industries, media.
and logistics.
Infrastructure:
renewable Coega
energy.
Industrial
and logistics.
Infrastructure: Maluti-A-Phofung
Infrastructure: OR OR Tambo
Development
Infrastructure: Zone,
Coega East London
Industrial Infrastructure: Maluti-A-Phofung
Special Economic Zone, Bram
International
Infrastructure: Airport,
OR Tambo
Gautrain, Vaal Vaal Special
Industrial
Development Development
Zone, Zone,
East London Special Economic Zone, Bram International Airport, Gautrain,
Fischer International Airport,
major Economic universities Zone, Gautrain, and research
major
ports
Industrial of of East London,
Development Port
Zone, Fischer International Airport, major universities and research
University of the Free State, institutions, universities large and research convention
institutions,
large FNB convention Stadium (Soccer centres, City).
Elizabeth
ports and
of East Ngqura,
London, airports
Port
at
University of the Free State, institutions, large convention
Central University of Technology,
centres, Gqeberha
Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth and
and and East
Ngqura, East London.
airports at Central University of Technology, centres, FNB Stadium (Soccer City).
London. N8 Corridor.
FNB Stadium (Soccer City).
Port Elizabeth and East London. N8 Corridor.
Notable tourism assets: Vaal
Notable tourism assets: Vaal Notable Notable tourism tourism assets: assets: Cradle Cradle of of
Notable tourism assets: Addo
River, Gariep Dam, Golden Gate Humankind, Notable tourism Apartheid assets: Museum,
Cradle of of
Notable tourism assets: Addo River, Gariep Dam, Golden Gate Humankind, Apartheid Museum,
Elephant National Park, Mountain
Highlands National Park, Cherry Constitution Humankind, Hill, Apartheid Magaliesberg,
Museum,
Elephant National Park, Mountain Highlands National Park, Cherry Constitution Hill, Magaliesberg,
Zebra National Park, Wild Coast,
Festival, Mangaung African
Soweto Constitution tours, Hill, Dinokeng.
Magaliesberg,
Zebra National Park, Wild Coast, Festival, Mangaung African Soweto tours, Dinokeng.
Jeffreys Bay, National Arts Festival.
Cultural Festival (Macufe).
Soweto tours, Dinokeng.
Jeffreys Bay, National Arts Festival. Cultural Festival (Macufe).
Provincial Provincial government government website: website:
Provincial government website:
Provincial government website: www.gauteng.gov.za
Provincial government website:
Provincial government website: Provincial government website: www.gauteng.gov.za
www.ecprov.gov.za
www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za
Gauteng www.gauteng.gov.za
www.ecprov.gov.za
www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za Gauteng Growth Growth and and
Eastern Cape Development
Free State Development
Development Gauteng Growth Agency:
and Development
Agency: www.ggda.co.za
Eastern Cape Development Free State Development
Development Agency:
Corporation: www.ecdc.co.za
Corporation: www.fdc.co.za
www.ggda.co.za
Corporation: www.ecdc.co.za Corporation: www.fdc.co.za www.ggda.co.za
SOUTH SOUTH AFRICAN AFRICAN BUSINESS BUSINESS 2021 2020 2026 2025 2024
2021 2020 16 20
16
16 20

SPECIAL SPECIAL FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURE
FEATURE
SPECIAL
SPECIAL FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURE
KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Capital: Capital: Pietermaritzburg
Capital: Capital: Polokwane
Capital: Capital: Mbombela
Mbombela
Main Main towns: towns: Durban, Durban, Newcastle,
Main Main towns: towns: Musina,
Musina, Ba-Phalabora, Main Main
Main
towns: towns: Emalahleni,
Emalahleni,
Ballito, Ballito, Port Port Shepstone,
Ba-Phalabora, Bela-Bela, Ba-Phalabora, Steelpoort, Bela-Bela,
Bela-Bela,
Tzaneen,
Middelburg,
Middelburg,
Sabie,
Sabie, Sabie, Lydenburg
Lydenburg
Empangeni, Ulundi Ulundi
Steelpoort, Thohoyandou
Steelpoort, Tzaneen,
Tzaneen,
Thohoyandou
Thohoyandou
Lydenburg
Population: 10 919 10 100 919 (2015)
100 100 (2015)
Population: 5 726 5800 726 (2015)
800 (2015) Population: Population:
Population:
4 283 4900 4
283
283 283
900
(2015) 900 900
(2015)
(2015)
Area: Area: 125 125 755km² 755km² (7.7%
(7.7% of
Area: Area: 125 755km² 125 755km² (10.2%
(10.2% of Area: Area: 76 495km² 76 76 495km² (6.3%
(6.3% of of
Area: 76 495km² (6.3%
of South of South Africa)
Africa)
of South of South Africa)
of South Africa)
Africa)
Africa)
of South Africa)
Premier:
Premier:
Premier:
Premier: Thami Premier: Nomusa Ntuli Dube-Ncube (IFP) (ANC) Premier: Dr Premier: Chupu Phophi Stanley Ramathuba Mathabatha (ANC) (ANC) Premier: Refilwe Premier: Mandla Mtshweni-Tsipane Ndlovu (ANC) (ANC)
Sihle
Sihle
Zikalala
Zikalala
(ANC)
(ANC)
Chupu
Chupu
Stanley
Stanley
Mathabatha
Mathabatha
(ANC)
(ANC)
Refilwe
Refilwe
Mtshweni-Tsipane
Mtshweni-Tsipane
(ANC)
(ANC)
Key sectors: Chemicals, dissolving
Key sectors: Mining, agriculture,
Key sectors: Agriculture, forestry,
Key sectors: Key sectors: Chemicals, Chemicals, dissolving
dissolving
Key sectors: Key sectors: Mining, agriculture, Key sectors: Agriculture, pulp manufacture, sugar, forestry, tourism, logistics.
mining, steel manufacturing,
Mining, agriculture, Key sectors: Agriculture, forestry, forestry,
pulp pulp manufacture, manufacture, sugar, sugar, forestry,
forestry,
tourism, tourism, logistics. logistics.
mining, steel manufacturing,
and automotive, textiles and footwear,
petrochemicals, pulp and paper,
mining, steel manufacturing,
automotive, automotive, textiles textiles and footwear, and footwear,
petrochemicals, pulp and mining, oil and gas, logistics.
power generation, tourism.
petrochemicals, pulp and paper, paper,
mining, Infrastructure: mining, oil and oil gas, and logistics. gas, King logistics. Shaka
Infrastructure: Musina-Makhado power power generation, generation, tourism.
tourism.
Infrastructure: Infrastructure: King King Shaka
Shaka
Infrastructure: Infrastructure: Musina-Makhado
Musina-Makhado
Infrastructure: Infrastructure: Infrastructure: Nkomazi Nkomazi Nkomazi Special Special
International Airport, Dube Special Economic Zone,
Special
International International Airport, Airport, Dube Dube TradePort,
TradePort, Special Special Economic Economic Zone, Zone, N1
N1 Economic Economic Economic Zone, Zone, Zone, Mbombela Mbombela
TradePort, Richards Bay Industrial Fetakgomo-Tubatse Special
Mbombela
Richards Richards Bay Industrial Bay Industrial Development Development
highway highway and and rail network, rail network, new new
International
International Fresh
International Fresh Fresh Produce
Fresh Produce
Development Zone, ports of Economic Zone, N1 highway and
Produce
Zone, Zone, ports ports of Richards of Richards Bay and Bay and
Medupi Medupi power power station.
station.
Market,
Market, Market, Maputo
Maputo Maputo Development
Development
Richards Bay and Durban, Albert rail network, new Medupi power
Development
Durban, Durban, Albert Albert Luthuli Luthuli International International
Corridor,
Corridor, Kruger
Corridor, Kruger
Kruger Kruger Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Luthuli International Convention station.
Mpumalanga
Convention Convention Centre Centre Complex. Complex.
International
International Airport.
International Airport.
Airport.
Centre Complex.
Airport.
Notable Notable tourism tourism assets: assets: HluhluweiMfolozi
Park, the Drakensberg the National Park, Notable tourism assets: Kruger
assets: Hluhluwe-
Notable Notable tourism tourism assets: assets: Kruger
Kruger Notable Notable tourism tourism assets: assets: Kruger
Kruger
iMfolozi Park, the Drakensberg National Park, Mapungubwe National National Park, Park, Blyde Blyde River River Canyon, Canyon,
mountains, iSimangilso iSimangilso Wetlands Wetlands
Heritage Heritage Site, Site, Makapans Makapans
Site, Valley,
National Park, Blyde River
mountains, iSimangaliso Wetland World Heritage Site, Makapans Valley, Barberton Canyon, Barberton Makhonjwa Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains Makhonjwa Mountains
Park, Park, Park, Durban Durban
Durban beaches, beaches,
beaches, South South Coast, South
South
Coast, Marula Marula
Valley, Festival, Marula
Festival, Waterberg Festival,
Waterberg
Waterberg
Canyon, Barberton Makhonjwa
Valley, Marula Festival, Waterberg (a UNESCO Mountains (a UNESCO World World (a Heritage UNESCO Heritage Site). World Site).
Zulu Coast, Zulu
Coast, cultural cultural Zulu
Zulu heritage, heritage, cultural
cultural historical historical heritage,
heritage, Biosphere.
Biosphere.
Mountains (a UNESCO World
Biosphere.
Heritage Site).
battlefields. historical
historical battlefields.
Heritage Site).
battlefields. battlefields.
Provincial Provincial government government website: website: Provincial Provincial government government website: website:
Provincial Provincial government government website: website:
www.limpopo.gov.za
Provincial government website:
Provincial government website: Provincial www.limpopo.gov.za government website: www.mpumalanga.gov.za
Provincial www.mpumalanga.gov.za
government website:
Provincial government website:
www.kznonline.gov.za
Limpopo www.limpopo.gov.za
www.kznonline.gov.za
www.limpopo.gov.za
Limpopo Economic Economic
Mpumalanga www.mpumalanga.gov.za
Mpumalanga Economic Economic Growth
www.mpumalanga.gov.za Growth
Trade Trade and Investment and Investment KwaZulu- KwaZulu-
Development Limpopo Economic
Development Agency: Development
Trade and Investment KwaZulu- Limpopo Economic Agency: Development Agency: Mpumalanga Agency: www.mega.gov.za
www.mega.gov.za
Economic Growth
Mpumalanga Economic Growth
Natal: Natal: www.tikzn.co.za
www.lieda.gov.za
Agency: www.lieda.gov.za
Natal: www.tikzn.co.za
Agency: www.lieda.gov.za www.lieda.gov.za
Agency: www.mega.gov.za
Agency: www.mega.gov.za
21
17 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2020 2021
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SOUTH SOUTH 2020 2026 2021
AFRICAN BUSINESS 2025 2024

SPECIAL FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURE
SPECIAL SPECIAL FEATURE FEATURE
Northern
Northern Cape
Cape
Northern Northern Cape Cape
North
North
West
West
North North West West
Western
Western
Cape
Cape
Western Western Cape Cape
Capital:
Capital:
Kimberley
Kimberley
Capital:
Capital:
Mahikeng
Mahikeng
Capital:
Capital:
Cape
Cape
Town
Town
Main
Capital: Main
towns:
towns: Kimberley
Douglas,
Douglas, Upington,
Upington,
Capital: Main
Main
towns:
towns:
Mahikeng Klerksdorp,
Klerksdorp,
Capital: Main
Main
towns:
towns:
Cape Stellenbosch,
Town
Stellenbosch,
Capital: Kimberley
Capital: Mahikeng
Capital: Cape Town
De
Main De
Aar,
Aar, towns:
Port
Port
Nolloth,
Nolloth, Douglas, Colesberg
Colesberg
Upington, Main Rustenburg,
Rustenburg,
towns: Klerksdorp, Brits,
Brits,
Potchefstroom
Potchefstroom
Main George,
George,
towns: Plettenberg
Plettenberg
Stellenbosch, Bay,
Bay,
Beaufort
Beaufort
Main towns: Douglas, Upington, Main towns: Klerksdorp,
Main towns: Stellenbosch,
De Aar, Port Nolloth, Colesberg Rustenburg, Brits, Potchefstroom George, West, West, Oudtshoorn, Oudtshoorn,
Plettenberg Worcester, Worcester,
De Aar, Port Nolloth, Colesberg Rustenburg, Brits, Potchefstroom George, Plettenberg Bay, Beaufort Bay, Beaufort
West, Malmesbury Malmesbury
West, Oudtshoorn, Oudtshoorn, Worcester, Worcester,
Population: 1 185 600 (2015)
Population: 3707 707000 000 (2015) (2015)
Malmesbury
Population: Population: 66200 200100 100 (2015) (2015)
Malmesbury
Area:
Population: 372 889km² 1 185 600 (30.5%
(2015)
of
Population: Area: 104 104 882km²
3 707 000 (8.6% (8.6%
(2015) of of
Population: Area: Area: 129 129462km² 6 200 100 (10.6% (10.6%
(2015) of of
Population: 1 185 600 (2015) Population: 3 707 000 (2015) Population: 6 200 100 (2015)
South Area: 372 Africa)
Area: 889km² 372 889km² (30.5% (30.5% Area: South 104 Area: Africa) 882km² 104 882km² (8.6% (8.6% Area: South South 129 Area: Africa) Africa) 462km² 129 462km² (10.6% (10.6%
of South of Africa) South Africa)
of South of South Africa) Africa)
of South of South Africa) Africa)
Premier:
Premier:
Premier:
Dr Premier:
Zamani Premier: Saul (ANC)
Premier: Bushy Lazarus Premier: Maape Mokgosi Professor (ANC) Professor (ANC) Tebogo Tebogo Job Job Premier: Alan Alan Premier: Winde (DA) (DA)
Dr Zamani Dr Zamani Saul (ANC) Saul (ANC) Mokgoro Mokgoro (ANC) (ANC)
Alan Winde Alan Winde (DA) (DA)
Key sectors: Agriculture, mining,
Key sectors: Mining, agriculture, Key Key sectors: Agriculture, agri-
agriprocessing,
sectors: Key sectors: Agriculture, wine and Agriculture, and grapes, agri-
agri-
renewable Key sectors: Key sectors: energy, Agriculture, Agriculture, astronomy. mining, mining, Key agri-processing, sectors: Key sectors: Mining, automotive Mining, agriculture, agriculture, Key renewable renewable energy, energy, astronomy. astronomy. agri-processing, components. agri-processing, automotive automotive processing, financial processing, services, wine wine and manufacturing,
grapes, and grapes,
Infrastructure: Upington Industrial
Park, Sol Plaatje University,
components. components.
Infrastructure: Hartbeespoort
financial tourism, financial oil services, oil and and services, gas, gas, boatbuilding.
manufacturing,
tourism, Infrastructure: tourism, oil and oil Ports gas, and of boatbuilding.
gas, Cape boatbuilding. Town,
Vaalharts Infrastructure: Infrastructure: Irrigation Upington Scheme, Upington Special Special Infrastructure: Dam, Infrastructure: Pelindaba Hartbeespoort
nuclear Hartbeespoort
research
Saldanha Infrastructure: and Mossel Ports Ports Ports of of Bay, Cape Cape of Mossgas Cape Town,
Square Economic Economic Kilometre Zone, Sol Zone, Array Plaatje Sol telescope Plaatje Dam, unit, North-West Pelindaba Dam, Pelindaba nuclear University, nuclear research research Town, oil-to-gas Saldanha Town, Saldanha refinery, and Saldanha Mossel and Cape Mossel and Bay, Town Mossel Mossgas Bay, Bay,
project, University, University, Namakwa Vaalharts Vaalharts Special Irrigation Irrigation
Economic Scheme.
Scheme. Zone.
Notable tourism assets: Six
national parks including the
unit, Bakwena North unit, Platinum North West University, West Highway. University,
Bakwena Bakwena Platinum Platinum Highway. Highway.
Notable tourism assets: Sun City,
Mmbatho Palms Hotel Casino
Mossgas International oil-to-gas Mossgas oil-to-gas refinery, Airport, oil-to-gas refinery, Cape refinery, Town
Cape Cape
Town International Town International International Convention Airport, Airport, Cape Airport, Centre, Cape Town Cape
Town Koeberg International Town International nuclear International Convention power Convention station. Convention Centre,
Centre, Notable Koeberg Centre, Koeberg tourism nuclear Koeberg nuclear assets: power nuclear Table power station. power
station. Mountain, station. Garden Route National
Kgalagadi Notable Notable tourism Transfrontier tourism assets: assets: Park, Six Six Notable Convention Notable tourism Resort, tourism assets: Pilanesberg assets: Sun City, Sun City,
Park, Notable Karoo Notable tourism National tourism assets: Park, assets: Table Table West Table
Orange national national River, parks spring including parks flower including the the Mmbatho National Mmbatho Park, Palms 18 18 Palms Hotel luxury Hotel Casino
lodges Casino
Coast Mountain, Mountain, National Garden Park, Garden Kirstenbosch
Route Route National National
displays, Kgalagadi Kgalagadi diamond Transfrontier Transfrontier routes. Park, Park, Convention Madikwe Convention Game Resort, Reserve. Resort, Pilanesberg Pilanesberg
Botanical Park, Park, Karoo Gardens, Karoo National National Cape Park, Park, Point,
Park, West West
Orange Orange River, spring River, spring flower flower National National Park, 18 Park, luxury 18 luxury lodges lodges in in
V&A Coast Waterfront, Coast National National Plettenberg Park, Park, Kirstenbosch Kirstenbosch
displays, displays, diamond diamond routes. routes. Madikwe Madikwe Game Game Reserve. Reserve.
Bay, Botanical Route Botanical 62, Gardens, Zeitz Gardens, Museum Cape Cape Point, of Point,
Contemporary V&A V&A Waterfront, Waterfront, Art.
Plettenberg Plettenberg
Bay, Bay, Route Route 62, 62, Zeitz 62, Zeitz Museum Museum of of of
Provincial Provincial government government website: website:
Provincial government website:
Provincial Contemporary Contemporary government Art. Art. Art. website:
www.northern-cape.gov.za
www.northern-cape.gov.za
Provincial www.nwpg.gov.za
Provincial
government
government
website:
website: www.westerncape.gov.za
Department Department of Economic
of Economic
www.nwpg.gov.za
North www.nwpg.gov.za
West Development
Wesgro: Provincial
Provincial www.wesgro.co.za
government
government website:
website:
Development Development and Tourism:
and Tourism:
Corporation: North
North West West
Development
www.nwdc.co.za
Development
www.westerncape.gov.za
www.westerncape.gov.za
www.northern-cape.gov.za/dedat
www.northern-cape.gov.za/dedat Corporation: www.nwdc.co.za Wesgro: www.wesgro.co.za
Corporation: www.nwdc.co.za
Wesgro: www.wesgro.co.za
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2024
2026
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SOUTH SOUTH AFRICAN AFRICAN BUSINESS BUSINESS 2021
2021 2020 2025 2020
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22 18 18 22

FOCUS
FOCUS
Sectoral strengths of of
South African provinces
SECTORAL SECTORAL STRENGTHS OF OF
SOUTH SOUTH AFRICA’S AFRICA’S PROVINCES
A wide A wide variety variety of investments of investments are are available. available.
Gauteng: Gauteng:
• Financial • Financial and business and business services services
• Information • Information and communications
and communications
technology technology
• Transport • Transport and logistics and logistics
• Basic iron and steel, products
Limpopo:
• Basic iron and steel, steel products
Limpopo:
• Fabricated metal products
• Mining
• Fabricated metal products
• Mining
• Motor vehicles, parts and accessories
• Fertilisers
• Motor vehicles, parts and accessories
• Fertilisers
• Appliances
• Tourism
• Appliances
• Tourism
• Machinery and equipment
• Agriculture
• Machinery and equipment
• Agriculture
• Chemical products, • • Chemical products, pharmaceuticals
• Agro-processing
• • Energy, including
North North West:
• Agro-processing
• Energy, including
West:
renewables renewables (solar) (solar)
• Mining • Mining
• Agriculture • Agriculture and and agro-processing
• Tourism • Tourism
• Metal • Metal products products
• Machinery • Machinery and equipment and equipment
• Renewable • Renewable energy energy (solar) (solar)
Northern Northern Cape: Cape:
• Mining • Mining
• Agriculture • Agriculture and agro-processing
and agro-processing
• Fisheries • Fisheries and aquaculture
and aquaculture
• Renewable • Renewable energy energy (solar, (solar, wind) wind)
• Jewellery • Jewellery manufacturing manufacturing
SPECIAL FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURE
FOCUS FOCUS
Mpumalanga:
Mpumalanga:
• • Mining Mining
• • Tourism Tourism
• • Forestry, Forestry, paper paper and and paper paper
products, products, wood wood and and wood wood
products products
• • Agriculture Agriculture and and agroprocessinprocessing
agro-
• • Metal Metal products products
KwaZulu-Natal:
• • Transport Transport and and logistics logistics
• • Tourism Tourism
• • Motor Motor vehicles, vehicles, parts parts and and
accessories accessories
• • Petrochemicals
• • Aluminium Aluminium
• • Clothing Clothing and and textiles textiles
• • Machinery Machinery and and equipment equipment
• • Agriculture Agriculture and and agroprocessinprocessing
agro-
• • Forestry, Forestry, pulp pulp and and paper, paper,
wood wood and and wood wood products products
Western Western Cape: Cape:
• Tourism • Tourism
• Financial • Financial and business and business services services
• Transport • Transport and logistics and logistics
• ICT • ICT
• Agriculture • Agriculture
and agro-processing
and agro-processing
• Fisheries
• Fisheries
and aquaculture
and aquaculture
• Petrochemicals
• Petrochemicals
• Basic
•
iron
Basic
and
iron
steel
and steel
•
• Clothing and textiles
Clothing and textiles
•
• Renewable energy (solar, wind)
Renewable energy (solar, wind)
Free State:
Free State:
• Agriculture
• Agriculture
and agro-processing
and agro-processing
• Mining
• Mining
• Petrochemicals
• Petrochemicals
• Machinery
• Machinery
and equipment
and equipment
•
• Tourism
Tourism
Eastern Eastern Cape: Cape:
• • Motor Motor vehicles, vehicles, parts parts and and
accessories accessories
• • Forestry, Forestry, wood wood and wood and wood products products
• • Clothing Clothing and textiles and textiles
• • Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals
• •
Leather
Leather
and leather
and leather
products
products
•
•
Tourism
Tourism
•
•
Renewable
Renewable
energy
energy
(wind)
(wind)
Source: Industrial Development Corporation (IDC); The Case for Investing in South Africa, Executive Summary
Source: Source: Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) (IDC); The Case for Investing in South Africa, Executive Summary
Source: (South Industrial African Development Investment Corporation Conference, (IDC) 2018).
(South African Investment Conference, 2018).
Page | 40
Page | 40
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2021
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2021
19
20 23 20 23 SOUTH SOUTH AFRICAN AFRICAN BUSINESS BUSINESS 2020 2024
19 SOUTH SOUTH AFRICAN AFRICAN BUSINESS BUSINESS 2020 2025 2026

THIS IS WHY
WE MATTER...

SPECIAL FEATURE
Special Economic Zones –
integrated drivers of regional
and national transformation
The framework for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in South Africa is
being re-examined in the light of lessons learnt and current realities.
Ford Motor Company of
Southern Africa has begun
production of the Ford Ranger
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
at Silverton in the TASEZ.
SEZs have been identified in more than
one iteration of the national Industrial
Policy Action Plan (IPAP) as key
contributors to economic development in
terms of industrialisation, regional development
and employment creation.
The Department of Trade, Industry and
Competition (dtic) is the state entity charged with
designating, promoting and supporting Special
Economic Zones (SEZs). The SEZ programme
functions under Programme 3: Investment and
Spatial Industrial Development, within the dtic.
In the course of 2025, a series of meetings and
consultations were held as the dtic sought input
on a draft Spatial Industrial Development Strategy
(SIDS) to guide possible improvements to the
SEZ programme. The SIDS, according to the dtic,
“proposes a reimagined model for SEZs, industrial
parks and township economic development”.
In explaining why a group of influential
CEOs had been invited to attend a meeting
in Johannesburg in June, the Deputy Minister of
Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi,
said, “This CEOs Forum is not just a meeting of
minds; it is a strategic platform to ensure our Spatial
Industrial Development Strategy is responsive,
inclusive and grounded in the lived realities of
business and communities across the country. We
want a framework that reflects the voice of industry
and responds to regional economic disparities
through practical and impactful interventions.”
Godlimpi stressed that, “Special Economic Zones
remain one of the dtic’s flagship programmes
to catalyse investment, create decent jobs and
strengthen export competitiveness.” He noted that
the refined strategy aimed to position SEZs “not just
as isolated economic pockets”, but rather as integrated
drivers of regional and national transformation.
Speaking at the event, SEZ Special Advisor at the
dtic, Maoto Molefane, emphasised that a shift in
emphasis had taken place when he said, “We are no
longer in the business of issuing SEZ licences. Our
job is not to designate for the sake of designating.
Our job is to industrialise this country.” He added,
“The designation of an SEZ should find us already on
the ground doing the work to support investments.”
Molefane proposed that a strategic rethink of
the SEZ framework was needed, based on lessons
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
22
PHOTO: TASEZ

SPECIAL FEATURE
from the programme’s trajectory and on the
material conditions faced by investors and
communities.
The SEZ PMU was cited as an example of a
new way of doing things in the new
dispensation around SEZs. Apart from providing
the technical support referred to above, it
would also ensure greater national oversight,
assist in the building of essential infrastructure
for the creation of a new SEZ and make sure
that firm investment commitments were made
before any new designations were proclaimed.
Molefane referenced a key element of the
proposed SIDS, “The draft strategy also responds
to spatial and economic disparities by prioritising
geographic areas with industrial potential,
even those without designated SEZs. This
ensures that township economies, underutilised
industrial parks and marginalised municipalities
are not left behind in the national effort to
reindustrialise. There is a need for coherence
and collaboration across all levels of government
to deliver impactful, place-based interventions.”
According to a record of the meeting issued by
the dtic, the forum noted the good progress
made by zones such Coega, East London, Dube
TradePort and the Tshwane Automotive SEZ,
while “acknowledging the ongoing work
required to integrate black industrialists, link
small businesses and align SEZs with broader
regional development”.
A similar rethink is underway in terms of the
Industrial Parks Revitalisation Programme which
aims to use private-public partnerships to
promote and sustain “competitive industrial parks,
spaces and clusters”. The focus is on growing the
economies of townships and rural communities
“for conducive investment opportunities”.
SEZ history
In the decade to 2010, four Industrial Development
Zones (IDZs) were proclaimed in South Africa
at Coega (Gqeberha), East London, Richards Bay
and OR Tambo International Airport (Gauteng).
The passing of the SEZ Act No 16 of 2014 shifted
the policy focus and by 2019 a total of nine SEZs
had been proclaimed.
In the same year, national government tasked
the dtic with playing a more active role in the
“planning, development and management of
SEZs” and all three spheres of government were
to be involved in planning. Municipalities and
provincial authorities would be asked to make
budget commitments for bulk infrastructure
and initial operational funding while support
for the development of top structure would be
forthcoming from the dtic.
This approach was implemented for the
first time for the Tshwane Automotive Special
Economic Zone (TASEZ), which has become
one of the country’s most successful SEZs.
The TASEZ celebrated its five-year anniversary
in 2025, during which time a combined
investment of more than R26-billion has been
attracted, 8 000 jobs created and R1.7-billion
paid out to 229 SMMEs. The second phase of
the TASEZ is currently under construction.
The other SEZ planning to expand is the
Coega SEZ which, like the TASEZ, has a strong
automotive component. However, in this case
the planned expansion is to accommodate a
dedicated Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Zone.
As the nearby town of Gqeberha already hosts
six facilities of pharmaceutical manufacturer
Aspen that together make it the largest
manufacturing site of its kind in Africa, this
conforms to the template of an SEZ that plays to
a regional strength.
The East London Industrial Park hosts a Science
and Technology Park.
Another step that was taken to enhance
new SEZs and give them a better chance of
success was the establishment of a National
SEZ Programme Management Unit. This unit
is located at the Industrial Development
PHOTO: ELIDZ 23 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

SPECIAL FEATURE
The Dedisa Peaking
Power Plant is
located within the
Coega SEZ.
Corporation (IDC) and it means that new
applicants have a ready resource to call on for
advice and support.
Programme goals
The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Programme
aims to bolster export-led growth, increase
investment into the country and create new jobs.
There are five ways through which these goals
are achieved:
• Investment attraction: Custom-control areas,
incentives and secure operating environments
are elements designed to attract investors.
• Job creation: By facilitating new investments
and supporting expansion, new jobs, particularly
in manufacturing, are created.
• Infrastructure: SEZs develop new and improved
infrastructure.
• Skills: SEZs can support education and vocational
training, particularly in technology.
• Export promotion: Favourable terms and
conditions for manufacturers aiming at
international markets make for a good
investment proposition. This supports the goal
of diversifying the national economy.
At the end of Q2 2024, the dtic reported that
the nine operational SEZs had garnered a
cumulative investment value of R30.9-billion and
created a total of 27 021 permanent employment
opportunities.
SEZs in eight provinces
As of 2025, South Africa had 12 designated
Special Economic Zones in eight provinces.
The only province without an SEZ, North West,
has applied for a platinum-related zone to be
created in Rustenburg, to be known as the
Bojanala SEZ as it falls within the Bojanala
Platinum District Municipality.
There are a further three areas where
the designation adjudication process is
underway: Vaal SEZ (Gauteng; Sedibeng District
Municipality, including the towns of Vereeniging,
Vanderbijlpark, Meyerton and Heidelberg),
Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ (Limpopo; local
municipality of the same name encompasses
Burgersfort, Ohrigstad and Steelpoort and
has a strong mining sector) and Upington
SEZ (Northern Cape; leveraging the airport’s
extremely long runway, proximity to mining
operations, renewable-energy projects and wine
and grape exports from the Orange River).
Three SEZs have been designated and are in
various states of readiness to start trading as such:
• Musina Makhdo SEZ: Limpopo, near the
country’s border with Zimbabwe.
• Nkomazi SEZ: Mpumalanga, at the country’s
border with Mozambique.
• Namakwa SEZ: Northern Cape, at Aggenys
near a major zinc-mining operation. The
announcement of official SEZ was made on 23
May 2024 and was welcomed by the Premier of
the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, as a signal
of “the dawn of a new era of industrial and
economic prosperity”.
Dr Saul added that it would be “the cornerstone
of the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor”. The
Industrial Corridor is an ambitious plan to link
the province’s huge mineral resources near
Kathu (iron ore) and Hotazel (manganese) with
new port facilities and a green-hydrogen plant
at Boegoebaai in the west. The corridor follows
the path of the N14 highway and include
smelters and other beneficiation facilities within
SEZs and industrial parks. Plans to establish
industrial parks at Kathu and Upington are well
advanced to support the spatial thinking which
underpins the Industrial Corridor strategy. ■
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
24
PHOTO: Coega SEZ

DESIGNATED SEZs
(SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES)
Limpopo
North West
Gauteng
Mpumalanga
Free State
KwaZulu-Natal
Northern Cape
Lesotho
Eastern Cape
Western Cape
Annual Report 2020-2021
25 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

ORTIA Precinct 2
The OR Tambo SEZ’s next major catalyst for jobs, growth and industrial expansion.
A new precinct in a
Special Economic Zone
adjacent to Africa’s
busiest airport, OR
Tambo International
Airport, promises good
returns for investors.
2025 marked another milestone year for the
OR Tambo International Airport Special
Economic Zone (OR Tambo SEZ) as the
Gauteng Industrial Development Zone
(GIDZ) officially launched its ORTIA Precinct 2
development. Spanning an impressive 265 000
square metres, this new precinct signals a significant
expansion of Gauteng Province’s largest airportbased
Special Economic Zone and reinforces the
province’s competitive destination for advanced
manufacturing and export-oriented investment.
The launch of ORTIA Precinct 2 builds on
the proven success of Precinct 1, a 7.5-hectare
development that has already attracted nearly
R1-billion in private investment and facilitated
the creation of more than 2 500 operational jobs.
This strong foundation has bolstered investor
confidence and demonstrated the catalytic power
of industrial development anchored around Africa’s
busiest airport.
Precinct 1 has already attracted nearly R1-billion
in investment and hosts a successful Jewellery
Manufacturing Precinct.
Scaling up for more growth and impact
The economic impact of ORTIA Precinct 2 is expected
to be even more significant. Current projections
indicate the creation of over 6 000 operational
jobs once the precinct is fully functional. The
development is set to contribute over R4-billion
to the national GDP and generate an estimated
7 557 construction-phase jobs, highlighting its potential
to stimulate both short-term and long-term
economic activity.
For the Gauteng IDZ, a subsidiary of the Gauteng
Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) and
developer of the OR Tambo SEZ, these projections
reinforce confidence in its ability to deliver a
globally competitive industrial ecosystem. Following
the successful delivery of Precinct 1, which
measures 62 000m², the organisation now enters a
new phase of expansion with advanced expertise
and capability.
Strategic location and investor incentives
ORTIA Precinct 2 offers unmatched proximity to OR
Tambo International Airport and direct access to
high-performing logistics infrastructure, making it
a prime location for export-oriented manufacturers.
Investors locating within the zone also benefit
from a suite of nationally packaged Special
Economic Zone incentives, including:
• VAT exemptions on products manufactured in
the zone and subsequently exported.
• Zero-rated VAT on eligible manufacturing
inputs procured for use within the zone.
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
26

• Access to the Employment Tax Incentive
(ETI), which reduces PAYE obligations for
qualifying employers.
• A modern industrial environment designed
for operational efficiency, reliability and global
manufacturing standards.
These incentives significantly strengthen the value
proposition for companies seeking a competitive
entry point into African and global markets.
Building a high-value cluster: pharmaceuticals
and medical manufacturing
Central to the development of ORTIA Precinct 2 is
a cluster-based approach, ensuring infrastructure
and services are closely aligned to the needs of
targeted sectors. For this precinct, the primary
focus is on pharmaceuticals, medical technologies
and other high-value lightweight manufacturing.
Through the cluster approach, innovation,
operational efficiency, skills development and
“co-opetition” will be established, creating an
ecosystem where companies benefit from
collaboration while advancing their own
competitive edge.
Specific to the pharmaceutical and medical
sector, clustering will include access to shared
laboratory facilities, proximity to regulatory and
licensing authorities, access to advanced coldchain
and temperature-controlled storage as well
as a range of flexible, shared-use facilities tailored
to strict industry requirements.
A partnership-driven model
Beyond infrastructure, the OR Tambo SEZ
development emphasises a collaborative
partnership model. Working closely with the
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
(the dtic) and the Gauteng Provincial Government,
the OR Tambo SEZ team will work with investors
to streamline processes, support regulatory
navigation and ensure smooth project delivery.
This service-driven approach has become a
defining feature of the OR Tambo SEZ and a key
contributor to its growing reputation as an investorfriendly
destination.
Looking towards 2026: a year of acceleration
As momentum continues to build, 2026 is expected
to be another breakthrough year for investment into
the OR Tambo SEZ.
In April 2026, Gauteng will host the second
Gauteng Investment Conference, convening
government leaders, investors and industry experts
to discuss opportunities within the province’s highgrowth
sectors. The investment opportunities
available at ORTIA Precinct 2 will further be
showcased for companies seeking to expand or
establish operations within South Africa’s strongest
economic region.
The message is clear: the OR Tambo SEZ is open
for business.
Companies interested in joining this dynamic
manufacturing and export ecosystem are invited
to connect with the OR Tambo SEZ and explore
investment opportunities within ORTIA Precinct 2. ■
Visit www.ortambosez.co.za
The offices of the Gauteng Industrial Development
Zone, the entity which operates the OR Tambo SEZ.
27 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

Risk management
via deep knowledge
and good data
Tsatsi Gideon Bochedi, the CEO of Credit
Guarantee Insurance Corporation of
Africa, is proud that the average tenure
of staff is 15 years, which he says accounts
for deep institutional knowledge in the
management of risk.
Tsatsi Gideon Bochedi, CGIC CEO.
BIOGRAPHY
Tsatsi Gideon Bochedi is a distinguished credit-insurance specialist with over 25 years of
dedicated service at Credit Guarantee Insurance Corporation of Africa. He brings extensive
expertise in credit management, claims, corporate-debt restructuring and business rescue,
underpinned by academic qualifications in accounting, credit management, internal auditing
and business leadership. He is an active contributor to industry boards and restructuring
forums, respected for his strategic insight, ethical leadership, hands-on approach and
ability to guide organisations through complex financial landscapes with integrity
and vision.
Having celebrated a 70th anniversary, your
business model must be robust.
There have been adjustments and changes in
shareholding and in the operating model but the
core of what we do has stood the test of time.
What do you do?
What we do is to provide insurance to companies
to insure their outstanding debtors or their clients’
outstanding amounts.
Where do you operate?
We have 20% of our activity in African markets.
South Africa is divided in two, the “domestic
market” division and then businesses that are are
exporting to the rest of the world.
Is your African division growing?
It is and, because in certain markets credit
insurance is still at the infancy stage, it’s growing
quite well. We will be adding staff in Namibia in
2026, mostly driven from an IT perspective, and
in Mauritius a partnership will give us a bit more
scale. That is the dual methodology that we follow,
so for example in Kenya we have international
company Marsh as broker partners.
Is IT supporting your growth strategy?
Technology must enhance the work. We are doing
a lot of work on improving efficiency. We have a
big project that is geared towards enhancing our
capability in delivering solutions through IT.
What is the biggest risk or opportunity?
The biggest risks are in geopolitics, with tariffs
destabilising the growth of markets. But we also
watch subtle long-term nuances around the
growth forecasts in different jurisdictions. We
ingest a lot of data to try to analyse where growth
is going. Secondly, we look at the normal trade
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
28

INTERVIEW
indicators and forecasts. We are quite heavily
indexed in manufacturing, so we watch that
sector intensely. The announcement about
ArcelorMittal shutting down steel plants is the
kind of thing we watch carefully.
Scaw Metals has recently built a new plant.
Scaw Metals is actually one of our clients and I
visited that plant last month. We infuse ourselves
into that value chain. We are a big supporter of the
steel industry in general.
Other risks?
From an internal perspective, one of our risks is IT.
Our infrastructure is a legacy system built many
years ago. It is difficult to find people to maintain
the system. You have to search all over the world
which means that the cost of managing the
system is high. Also can an older system ingest the
latest tools in AI to improve efficiency in multiple
fields? We’re spending a lot of money upgrading
the infrastructure.
Would AI contribute to your being better able to
evaluate risk?
One of our assets is that we control a huge database
which we keep improving. Secondly, we have the
history and knowledge of trained professionals. A
major reason for our 70 years is the culture of the
business as a binding tool that is infused in people.
The average tenure of our people is 15 years.
These people have long institutional memory.
They have long memories of what works and how
it works. They are an asset to the business in how
we manage risk. When you add that skill on top of
the data, that enables us to do better analysis. AI is
going to make us even better and even faster.
What are your thoughts on the African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)?
We are putting together a collaboration agreement
with the Export Credit Insurance Agency (ECIC)
whereby our capacity and muscle in terms of
analysing risk works together with the capacity of
the ECIC. This will be key to making sure that we
unlock the AfCFTA.
The ECIC is a state entity that we used to run on
behalf of the state about 20 years ago. Its mandate
has been expanded to offer short-term credit
insurance which has created an avenue for us to
cooperate with them in markets where you need
a lot of data in what could otherwise be a tough
market to operate in.
Are you upbeat about African trade?
I am, but I will say I’m a bit on the cautious side as
well. We have been in the African market a long
time. Cultural differences are a real thing, so it’s
not easy to just get into a country and think that
you will just do a quick trade and make lots of
dollars. It is not even on the level of language
differences, you also have to understand little
cultural nuances of how to trade. In the risk
management space, how do we deal with those
markets? You don’t want to go in with a bang and
then pull out because you’re losing money.
What one thing would you say to a new trader
going into Africa?
Do your research, understand the market and the
client and/or customer you’re looking for. Lots of
credible businesses in African markets are familyrun.
Who are the founders and what do they
believe in? Form relationships based on that. In
Kenya, the business is largely based and funded
on relationships.
Do you have any SMME-specific products?
We do, and we keep innovating around that. The
SMME product is directed towards South Africa
but we keep refining it to make sure that it’s
easily accessible. We will shortly be coming to the
market with a revised product to support trade
through cash flows. I have commissioned deep
research to consult with SMMEs at various levels
to make sure that we create products that solve
their issues. ■
29 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

The giant iron-ore mine at Sishen in the Northern Cape is one of the few assets which is not being sold by
Anglo American ahead of its merger with Canadian company Teck Resources. Anglo Teck will be strongly
focussed on iron ore and zinc. Kumba Iron Ore, in which Anglo American has a 69.7% stake, operates Sishen
and the nearby Kolomela mine, together with a terminal at the Port of Saldanha Bay.
PHOTO: Anglo American

KEY SECTORS
Overviews of the main economic sectors
of South Africa
Agriculture 32
Mining 34
Energy 38
Oil and gas 42
Engineering 44
Manufacturing 48
Construction and property 50
Water 51
Telecommunications 52
ICT 53
Tourism 54
Banking and financial services 55
Development finance and SMME support 56
Education and skills training 58
Transport and logistics 60

OVERVIEW
Agriculture
Energy boost for diversification in the sugar sector.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Mergers are creating huge
companies.
An energy drink launched in October 2025 might be the
saving of the South African sugar industry. Buffeted by
sugar taxes, cheap imports and tariffs on exports, the sector
has seen two mills in KwaZulu-Natal close permanently
and many job losses.
The new energy drink is called Shesha, pictured, and it is
produced by Womoba, a subsidiary of the not-for-profit
SA Canegrowers. Made from the juice extracted from raw
sugarcane with no processed sugar, it also contains 50% less
caffeine than other energy drinks. The makers claim that no other
juice in the world is made from sugarcane which is a good source of
antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.
The initiative is one step in a comprehensive diversification
strategy which SA Canegrowers (representing 24 000 small-scale
and 1 200 large-scale growers) and others such as the South
African Sugar Association (SASA) are intent on implementing in
the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. There are 65 000
people directly employed in the sector, with a further 270 000 jobs
along the value chain. A Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan to 2030
has been created which includes the idea of diversification into
fields such as electricity generation from biomass (which already
occurs at several mills) and the creation of ethanol, a platform
chemical for products such as bio-polyethylene and sustainable
aviation fuel. Industry representatives have argued that a sugar tax
works directly against the objectives of the Master Plan.
Mergers continue to create
powerful new companies
within the agricultural sector.
The small co-operatives of
a century ago live on only
in the letter K embedded in
the names of the groups that
now span several provinces
and have a sectoral spread
covering horticulture, animal
rearing and processing, not
to mention financial services,
building materials outlets and
automotive services.
The integration process
of VKB and GWK, formerly
Griqualand West Cooperative
and one of the Northern Cape’s
biggest entities, is proceeding
well. The new VKB Group
recorded a normalised profit
before tax of R545-million
in the 2025 financial year.
Investment in solar energy
at some of the company’s
facilities is planned. The
inclusion of GWK gives the
group an extensive presence
in the three Cape provinces
while NTK covers Limpopo
and the northern parts of
Mpumalanga. The historical
home of VKB, namely the
eastern Free State, is still a
strong region for the company
whose headquarters are in
Reitz, and the VKB brand covers
the balance of the provinces.
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
32
PHOTO: Shesha/Facebook

OVERVIEW
GWK continues to trade as a separate entity and the headquarters
are in the Northern Cape town of Douglas, which is on the Vaal River
and very close to the confluence with the Orange River. GWK Pecans
owns three processing facilities.
Another significant merger was the purchase of a majority
shareholding in KLK by Senwes, a giant company most closely
associated with grain and grain-handling. KLK has a significant
presence in the Northern Cape whereas Senwes has its history
rooted in the area now covered by the North West Province and its
head office is in Klerksdorp.
South Africa is gaining an enviable global reputation for
good olive oil. Between 2012 and 2020, the area under olive oil
production, almost exclusively in the Western Cape which has the
ideal climate for olive trees, grew by 70%. In 2020, 500 000 new
trees were planted, a figure that dropped to 255 000 in 2023 but
the value of shelled exports grew in that same period by 361%.
Other horticultural products that are expanding their plantings
are pecan and macadamia nuts. Total land planted to pecan reached
98 842ha in 2020. Companies such as SA Pecans and Olives SA
have their headquarters in Hartswater, which is at the centre of the
Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme and therefore ideal for the cultivation of
pecan nuts. Further along the Vaal River is the agricultural enterprise
of Wildeklawer, Africa’s largest onion producer and a big supplier of
potatoes, carrots and beetroot to local and international markets.
According to Fruit SA, 324 000 South Africans are employed in
the fresh fruit industry, which accounted for 35% (or R63-billion)
of the country’s agricultural exports in 2021/22. South Africa is the
world’s second-largest exporter of citrus fruit.
In 2023, South Africa exported agricultural products valued at
$13.2-billion, primarily in fruit, wine, wool and grains, according
to agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo, quoting data from
Trade Map.
National assets
Agricultural land in South Africa stands at about 93.5-million
hectares. This represents 76.3% of South Africa’s total land mass of
122.5-million hectares and about 3% less than in 1994.
A total of 70% of South Africa’s grain production is maize,
which covers 60% of the cropping area of the country. KwaZulu-
Natal and Mpumalanga produce sugar, but volumes are down. The
Free State Province supplies significant proportions of the nation’s
ONLINE RESOURCES
Grain SA: www.grainsa.co.za
SA Canegrowers: www.sacanegrowers.co.za
SA Table Grape Industry: www.satgi.co.za
South African Pecan Nut Producers Association: www.sappa.za.org
Pecan nuts are processed and
packed in Douglas in the
Northern Cape.
sorghum, sunflower, potatoes,
groundnuts, dry beans, and
almost all of its cherries.
South Africa is famous for
its fruit, of which 35% is citrus,
23% subtropical and nuts, 26%
pome fruit, 11% stone fruit and
9% table grapes. Most of South
Africa’s citrus and subtropical
fruit comes from the eastern
part of Limpopo. There are
about 3 500 wine producers in
South Africa, with the majority
located in the Western Cape.
The Eastern Cape is the
largest livestock province,
which includes Angora goats,
from whom mohair is taken.
The province is the centre of
the country’s mohair value
chain. South Africa has a beef
herd of 14-million. South
Africa’s milk producers normally
produce about 3.3-billion litres
of milk every year. ■
PHOTO: GWK
33
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Mining
Anglo American is no more.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Energy-transition metals
are trending.
De Beers is for sale, including the Venetia Mine in Limpopo whose
life was recently extended to 2045.
The reordering of the South African mining sector continues
apace, with the merger of Anglo American with Canadian
company Teck Resources signalling the end of a long era in
which the South African giant played a dominant role in the
national economy.
The $50-billion new company, Anglo Teck, will create a top-five
global copper producer with its headquarters in Canada and its
primary listing in London, if the deal wins all the necessary approvals.
There will be secondary listings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange,
New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange.
Over the course of the 20th century, Anglo American Corporation
of South Africa became a huge and extraordinarily diverse company
with an international footprint and a presence in many sectors. In 1999,
82 years after its founding, Anglo American plc switched its main listing
to London and refocussed on mining. In recent times, the company
has sought to refine its portfolio to focus on copper, premium iron ore
and crop nutrients. Even the group’s 85% stake in diamond producer
De Beers was put up for sale. Assets and shareholdings in diamonds,
coal, nickel and platinum were sold off, resulting in the formation of
companies such as Seriti Resources and Thungela Resources (coal)
and the sale and rebranding of Anglo American Platinum as Valterra
Platinum. The new PGM company started trading on the Johannesburg
Stock Exchange (JSE) on 28 May 2025.
Many of Anglo’s coal mines
were bought by predominantly
black companies and as the
pressure to move the global
economy away from fossil fuels
intensified, there were fears that
these new companies would be
left with stranded assets. This
has not been the case. On the
contrary, coal has bounced back
strongly as many countries lower
their more ambitious carbonemissions
targets. South Africa,
while not rejecting the idea of
a transition to cleaner energy,
has extended the life of several
coal-powered power stations
in Mpumalanga. A Sunday
Times headline in October
2025 summed up prevailing
sentiment: “Coal miners buoyant
on future.”
The CEO interviewed for
that article, Ben Magara of
Exxaro Resources, said that the
company was looking to extend
the life of its lucrative coal mines.
However, he also noted that
diversification was a key part
of the future. With R11.6-billion
recently spent on manganese
assets in the Northern Cape and
R18-billion in cash reserves ready
to be deployed in purchasing
copper mines, Exxaro is another
company shifting to “energytransition”
metals.
Exxaro is also a leader in
the switch to the generation
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026 34
PHOTO: De Beers Group

OVERVIEW
Metals and the production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide, a
vital part of lithium-ion batteries, are one of the drivers in mining
companies shifting focus.
of renewable energy. Almost all of South Africa’s biggest mines are
now either building solar plants or signing wheeling deals whereby
independent power producers (IPPs) sell them cleaner electricity.
Exxaro has a dedicated renewable-energy business in its portfolio,
Cennergi, which aims to generate 1 000MW by 2033 on the way to
Exxaro being carbon neutral by 2050.
Another significant indicator of the changes that have marked
South African mining began in 2013 when Gold Fields unbundled
most of its gold mines and Sibanye Gold was created with Neal
Froneman as CEO. Froneman retired in 2025 from a much bigger
and diverse Sibanye-Stillwater company, with operations on five
continents and a market capitalisation of R134-billion. Acquisitions
came thick and fast, including Lonmin, a South African platinum
group metals (PGMs) miner, but it was the purchase in 2016 of a
palladium mine in the US, Stillwater, that was transformative. Sibanye-
Stillwater has gone on to become one of the world’s biggest primary
producers of platinum, palladium and rhodium. Gold continues to
form a big part of the portfolio, and it produces and refines iridium
and ruthenium, nickel, chrome, copper and cobalt. The Keliber
lithium project in Finland points to the company’s ambitions in
terms of green metals and the production of battery-grade lithium
hydroxide, a vital part of lithium-ion batteries.
A sale that was first mooted in 2021 was finally resolved in June
2023 when Northam Platinum agreed to sell its stake in Royal
Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) to Impala Platinum (Implats). That sale
took Implats’ holding in RBPlat to 91% after it had bought 9.26%
ONLINE RESOURCES
Council for Geoscience: www.geoscience.org.za
Minerals Council South Africa: www.mineralscouncil.org.za
National Department of Mineral Resources and Energy: www.dmre.gov.za
of the company from Public
Investment Corporation (PIC)
earlier in the year to give it a
majority holding. The RBPlat
PGM facility, which lies directly
south of Sun City, is adjacent to
Implats Rustenburg’s land. The
Impala Rustenburg operation
comprises a nine-shaft mining
complex and concentrating
and smelting plants. The big
sale coincided with a decline in
the global prices of some of the
PGMs such as palladium and
rhodium. Although the longterm
prospects for PGMs are
good in support of the nascent
hydrogen economy, a slowing
Chinese economy and the
expanded market for electric
vehicles are negative factors.
In July 2023, as scheduled,
De Beers Group celebrated the
beginning of production at its
Venetia Mine in the northern part
of Limpopo Province. The longterm,
$2.3-billion conversion
project of the diamond mine to
an underground mine began in
2012 and will extend the life of
the mine to 2045 or beyond.
In the Northern Cape, the
Namakwa Special Economic
Zone in Aggeneys is being
envisioned as an industrial
cluster with the biggest new
mine project in the country, the
Gamsberg project of Vedanta
Zinc International, as the central
tenant. The project will produce
600 000 tons of zinc when phase
three is complete. The search for
copper in the Northern Cape has
attracted Copper 360 and Orion
Minerals, both of whom are
actively pursuing old sites and
new. ■
PHOTO: Sibanye-Stillwater
35
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

FOCUS
Implats delivers purpose-driven
mining in South Africa
Implats spent R274-million on community projects.
At Impala Platinum Holdings Limited
(Implats), responsible business practices
are not optional. As a leading platinum
group metals producer, Implats has
embedded nation building into its corporate DNA.
With operations rooted in the Bushveld Complex,
the Group demonstrates how mining can drive
inclusive growth, sustainable development and
social transformation.
Central to Implats’ strategy is a clear purpose: to
create a better future. This guides its environmental,
social and governance (ESG) agenda, which
goes beyond compliance to actively support the
wellbeing of employees, host communities and the
broader economy.
Creating sustainable livelihoods
Implats employs more than 50 000 people across
its South African operations and is recognised
for its commitment to safety, employee wellness
and inclusive development. Since 2008, it has
invested more than R5-billion in employee housing,
transforming living conditions for thousands of
mineworkers and their families.
During FY2025, Implats spent R274-million on
community projects focused on wellbeing,
education and skills development, enterprise and
supplier development (ESD), inclusive procurement
and developing resilient infrastructure – benefitting
more than 61 000 people and supporting
approximately 3 700 employment opportunities.
Education remains a cornerstone of its nationbuilding
efforts. In FY2025, Implats supported
4 500 learners, awarded more than 680 bursaries
and learnerships for community members,
supported 75 mine community schools and
sponsored school sports programmes for more than
7 000 participants.
A partner in progress
Economic empowerment and creating functioning,
resilient and healthy mine communities are pillars
of Implats’ nation-building efforts. Through inclusive
procurement and ESD programmes, the Group
supports local businesses and entrepreneurs. The
Group’s ESD and procurement activities in FY2025
supported more than 400 small, medium and
micro enterprises (SMMEs), trained more than
1 600 mine-community entrepreneurs and sustained
more than 2 600 job opportunities.
The Group completed 17 community
infrastructure development projects, which
collectively positively impacted more than 21 000
people while creating 1 100 job opportunities.
Meanwhile, its community wellbeing initiatives
benefited more than 9 100 people, supported 350
farmers, four agricultural programmes and five
gender-based violence initiatives.
As South Africa navigates complex socioeconomic
challenges, Implats continues to demonstrate
how business can be a force for good – delivering
value to shareholders while creating a better future
for generations to come. ■
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
36

Creating a better future

OVERVIEW
Energy
The private sector is investing in the grid.
Where before the problem was a lack of power to
feed the distribution grid, today South Africa must
find a way to build a bigger grid.
The Renewable Energy Independent Power
Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has been extremely
successful in adding megawatts to the power available to South
Africans, so much so that by 2025 loadshedding seemed to be a
thing of the past on the back of investments of more than
R300-billion.
In addition, solar PV installations are soaring. GreenCape’s
“Energy Services Market Intelligence Report 2024” noted a 52%
increase in rooftop solar PV installations in South Africa, rising to
3.2GW when measured at the first quarter of 2023. They assessed
that market value at R41.6-billion and predicted that installed
capacity will increase by 2030 to 10GW with a market value of
R130-billion.
However, the country needs 14 000km of transmission
infrastructure, together with 2 300kVa capacity in transformer
infrastructure if the newly acquired power from solar farms and wind
parks is to be delivered to homes, mines and factories. The cost of
this exercise is estimated to be in the region of R440-billion.
Bid Windows 6 and 7 revealed the extent of the problem,
with about 6GW of projects being unable to be executed because of
lack of grid access. The Department of Electricity and Energy (DoEE)
will roll out a system of allocating transmission projects based on
the successful model of the REIPPPP. The first implementation of
the Independent Transmission Projects (ITPs) programme will see
Lithium-ion batteries being assembled in Cape Town.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Battery storage is growing.
3 200MW running along 1164km
of privately funded and operated
transmission lines in three
provinces.
In support of the ITP
programme, a Credit Guarantee
Vehicle is to be established
with the support of National
Treasury. This will allow for
better security for private
investors in telecommunications
infrastructure, given concerns
about Eskom’s debts.
A new company has been
formed to deal with transmission.
As of June 2024, the National
Transmission Company of South
Africa (NTCSA) was established
as a separate, wholly-owned
subsidiary of Eskom, the state
utility. This is part of a plan to
ultimately split Eskom into three
parts, the other two covering
generation and distribution.
Another way of mitigating
concerns about transmission
is through energy storage. In
December 2024, eight preferred
bidders in the second bid window
of the Battery Energy Storage
progamme were announced.
R12.8-billion was committed and
the intention is to increase grid
availability in the North West,
Gauteng and Free State.
A third solution to the
transmission problem is through
“curtailment”, whereby new
projects are allocated unused
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
38
PHOTO: John Young

OVERVIEW
Smokey chimneys are being replaced by solar panels.
capacity that a previously approved project is not using. The National
Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) is the body that regulates
issues such as a curtailment framework and rules about grid access.
Swedish company Polarium has set up a factory in Cape
Town to assemble lithium-ion batteries. Polarium spent about
R510-million setting up the plant and has plans to expand. In March
2024 the company announced that it had completed the transition
to 100% solar-powered operations. The biggest customer for
Polarium’s batteries in Africa is the American Tower Corp, which sets
up and maintains telecommunications towers across the continent.
In South Africa the 12.6kWh battery sells well and customers include
shopping malls and hotels. By using nickel, manganese and cobalt
(NMC) technology, the lifecycle of the manufactured batteries is
effectively doubled and they are recyclable, a fact which will assist
Polarium as it aims for net-zero status for the factory by 2030.
In Mpumalanga, Seriti Green has broken ground on a project
that will deliver 750MW of wind from 130m towers when it is
complete. In addition, the hybrid model will include 100MW of solar
and 800MW of battery.
The greater Humansdorp Jeffreys Bay area hosts no fewer than
13 wind farms so the announcement in March 2024 that Nordex
Energy South Africa is to start making concrete tower sections at
a manufacturing facility in Humansdorp makes economic sense.
Up to 300 jobs will be created. Having invested in the Eastern Cape
ONLINE RESOURCES
NERSA: www.nersa.org.za
South African Independent Power Producers Association:
www.saippa.org.za
South African Wind Energy Association: www.sawea.org.za
since 2013, Nordex Energy South
Africa boasts a significant footprint
in the province, including a
warehouse in Gqeberha and 573MW
of installed capacity across five
wind-power plants.
Resources companies are
looking to source renewable
energy. Richards Bay Minerals has
signed a 20-year power-purchase
agreement with Khangela Emoyeni
Wind Farm to supply the miner with
140MW from the site that rolls over
a series of mountains on the edge
of the Western and Northern Cape
provinces.
Certain manufacturing companies
that have access to biomass that
results from the manufacturing
process, such as woodchips for Sappi
and bagasse in the case of sugar
producers such as Tongaat Hulett and
I llovo, are in a position to produce
their own energy.
However, there are industries
where signing offtake agreements
with renewable energy producers
is the more logical route to take.
In fact, even PGM miner Ivanhoe
Mines, despite having its own plans
to produce solar power, has signed
an offtake agreement with Renergen.
The Automotive Industry
Development Centre (AIDC) Eastern
Cape is taking steps to prepare
the province for EVs through its
eMobility and Climate Change
Support Business Unit. A highprofile
aspect of the unit’s work has
been the creation of EV charging
stations in different parts of the
Eastern Cape, including Gqeberha,
East London and Tsitsikamma.
Education, research and the
promotion of the idea of EV travel,
including through the conversion of
bus fleets, form important parts of
the work of the unit. ■
PHOTO: Jeka Energy
39 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

YOUR SINGLE,
TRUSTED GATEWAY
TO ENERGY PROJECT
PERMITTING PROCESS
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
40

STOP WAITING.
START GENERATING.
South Africa’s energy security demands speed and certainty. The Energy
One Stop Shop (EOSS), supported by BUSA, is designed to cut through
bureaucratic complexities, giving you coordinated information on the
permitting process and facilitating approvals.
The Energy One Stop Shop (EOSS) serves several critical functions in the
renewable energy sector:
• Facilitating Authorisation: Acts as the centralised conduit or
interface between renewable energy developers/Independent
Power Producers (IPPs) and the relevant competent authorisation
authorities.
• Streamlining Processes: Aims to significantly reduce
administrative challenges developers face during the permitting
and authorisation process.
• Expediting Timelines: Works to shorten timeframes for obtaining
renewable energy project authorisations by fast-tracking the
process and proactively removing bureaucratic blockages.
Visit our website to register your project, check regulatory
requirements, and access our full suite of tools.
www.energyoss.gov.za
the dtic
Department:
Trade, Industry and Competition
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
41 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Oil and gas
The SAPREF refinery has been sold.
Three subsidiaries of the Central Energy Fund (CEF) have
been combined to create a new state-owned company,
the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC).
Igas, PetroSA and the Strategic Fuel Fund were the three
entities that merged to create the new body, which has been
tasked with overseeing the strategic planning, coordination and
governance of the country’s petroleum and gas resources. The CEF
is charged with managing South Africa’s energy assets and reports
to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE).
Building up local refining capacity and infrastructure will be
a priority, as will rejuvenating the gas-to-liquids (GTL) refinery in
Mossel Bay, a facility that is no longer working due to a shortage
of feedstock. Hopes that the the Brulpadda and Luiperd projects
off the south-eastern coast of South Africa (near Mossel Bay)
would provide that feedstock were dashed when TotalEnergies
announced that it would not proceed with plans to develop the
blocks. Although they were found to be rich in gas, the company
said that they were not “commercially viable” to develop, without
going into details. The DMRE has declared that it is confident
that another investor will be found for the project and TotalEnergies
still has exploration rights over a number of other offshore fields
such as Orange Basin Deep which is located 220km west of
The SAPREF refinery has been sold.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Renergen has received a
buyout offer.
Cape Town in water depths
between 2 800m and 4 200m.
Other oil majors exploring
in those South African and
Namibian waters, collectively
known as the Orange Basin,
include Galp, Chevron and Shell.
The fields are said to be capable
of yielding up to 7.5-billion
barrels of recoverable oil.
The joint owners of the
SAPREF Refinery, Shell
Downstream SA and BP Southern
Africa decided to sell the 180 000
barrel-a-day plant and in 2024,
the CEF bought it for R1. When
it was operating at full capacity,
the facility accounted for roughly
35% of the country’s refinery
capacity. Durban’s other oil
refinery, Enref, was hit by a fire in
December 2020 and it has since
been operating as a storage
facility for owners Engen.
South Africa is a net
importer of fuel and the Port of
Durban handles 80% of South
Africa’s fuel imports. In April
2024, the Competition Tribunal
approved a proposed merger
whereby Vitol Emerald Bidco
intends to acquire Engen,
subject to a set of competition
and public interest conditions.
Among Vitol’s assets is the
Burgan Cape Terminal, a
storage and distribution facility
in Cape Town.
Natref in Sasolburg is South
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
42
PHOTO: SAPREF

OVERVIEW
Africa’s only inland crude oil refinery and is a joint venture between
Sasol Oil and Total South Africa.
The Virginia Gas Project in the Free State owned by Renergen
was closely followed by observers of the oil and gas sector because
the company was due to become South Africa’s first onshore
natural gas explorer and the first integrated producer of both
liquefied helium (LHe) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Whereas
it took nine years to find the R1.2-billion needed to fund the
first phase of the Virginia Project, more investors started being
attracted to the project as projections came in about the potential
of the site, which were said to contain some of the world’s richest
concentrations of helium. An amount of R3.6-billion has been
invested by Ivanhoe Mines to secure some LNG offtake rights, and
the Central Energy Fund purchased a 10% stake for R1-billion.
ONLINE RESOURCES
South African National Petroleum Company: www.sa-npc.co.za
South African Oil and Gas Alliance: www.saoga.org.za
South African Petroleum Industry Association: www.sapia.co.za
Daily Investor reported
in September 2025 that the
Public Investment Corporation
(PIC) had “trimmed its stake
in South African energy
company Renergen”. This
followed an August article in
BusinessTech which noted that
“PSG Wealth has reaffirmed its
sell recommendation” on the
company’s shares despite news
of a possible buyout by USbased
ASP Isotopes. In terms of
the proposed buyout, Renergen
shareholders would not receive
cash, but rather shares listed
by ASP Isotopes on the JSE.
Chief concerns relate to missed
helium production deadlines
and a large debt pile. ■
SUPPLYING INDUSTRIAL AND
SPECIALTY GAS PRODUCTS TO THE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION
www.airproducts.co.za
43 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Engineering
SRK Consulting celebrates five decades.
SECTOR INSIGHT
The IIE’s engineering degrees
have received accreditation.
In 2024 SRK Consulting celebrated its 50th anniversary. What
was started by three recently qualified civil engineers in
Johannesburg has become a group with more than 1 700 employees
in multiple locations around the world. The group continues to
have a strong focus on mining but operates in several sectors such as
infrastructure, water, energy and the environment.
The BEng Degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and
in Mechanical Engineering offered by The Independent Institute of
Education (The IIE) have been accorded full accreditation from the
Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), the first such recognition
given to a private higher education provider. ECSA must approve all
degrees in the field of engineering and accreditation is given after
site visits and reviews. The IIE is a division of JSE-listed ADvTECH.
The Engineering Council of South Africa has a programme
where trainees can earn certificates in specific disciplines from a
range of institutions. The qualifications are in line with the council’s
Exit Level outcomes.
Automotive parts have to be just right. Anything less than precise
measurement will not suffice. At its facility in Nigel, the metrology
laboratory of Malben Engineering provides the accurate data to
make sure that every part meets the requirements of the tough
standards set by its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) clients.
The Hexagon global five-axis coordinate measuring machine, pictured,
which checks for accuracy is computer-numerically controlled (CNC).
ONLINE RESOURCES
Consulting Engineers South Africa: www.cesa.co.za
Engineering Council of South Africa: www.ecsa.co.za
South African Institute of Electrical Engineers: www.saiee.co.za
Started in 1974 by six Italian-South
Africans, the company’s first major
automotive client was Fiat, and it
was one of the first companies to
start using red-light scanners,
upgrading to blue-light scanners in
2021. Malben also does work for the
mining and construction sectors.
Bell Heavy Industries has been
launched. In 2023, Bell Equipment,
the manufacturer of well-known
yellow Articulated Dump Trucks
(ADTs), announced that it would be
offering services such as complex
engineering, heavy fabrication and
machining to other companies.
In making the point that the
company’s staff is well-equipped to
offer these sophisticated services,
Bell Equipment’s Group Business
Development Director, Stephen Jones,
noted, “South Africa has seen a huge
reduction in engineering companies
and in response, we have strategically
positioned our South African
manufacturing facility to fill this void
by providing project engineering and
contract manufacturing through BHI.”
In October 2025 Murray & Roberts
Holdings received a final liquidation
order. Started in 1902 as Murray &
Stewart, the firm played a major role
in the national economy. Subsidiary
company Murray & Roberts Limited
(MRL) is not affected by the ruling and
is continuing with a business
rescue process. Murray & Roberts
Cementation is a subsidiary of MRL. ■
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
44
PHOTO: Malben Engineering

PROFILE
Empowering the future of electrical
engineering: SAIEE’s commitment to
growth and collaboration
Companies are invited to share their insights and expertise as an SAIEE Corporate Partner.
The South African Institute of Electrical
Engineers (SAIEE), established in 1909, is
excited to announce a series of innovative
initiatives to strengthen corporate
partnerships, expand training opportunities and
enhance benefits for its growing membership.
SAIEE offers comprehensive Continuing
Professional Development (CPD) courses and
interactive workshops specifically designed for
electrical engineering practitioners through its
dedicated training academy. These programmes
cover a wide range of topics, from advanced
technical skills to essential leadership and
management training, ensuring that practitioners
are well-prepared to face the industry’s constantly
changing landscape.
In a dedicated effort to address the urgent
challenges facing South Africa, SAIEE is actively
seeking to collaborate with companies eager
to share their insights and expertise. As an SAIEE
Corporate Partner, your involvement is welcome
and vital in developing impactful solutions that
resonate within the sector. By partnering with
fellow industry leaders, your contributions can
truly influence the future of electrical engineering
in South Africa, driving innovation and progress.
Furthermore, SAIEE warmly welcomes new
members eager to develop their professional skills,
expand their networks and stay ahead in industry
advancements. Through streamlined processes,
SAIEE is making it increasingly easier for electrical
engineering practitioners across South Africa to
join and access the institute’s extensive resources
and opportunities.
In summary, SAIEE’s steadfast dedication to
providing high-quality training programmes,
forming strong corporate partnerships and
growing its membership showcases its
commitment to advancing electrical engineering
in South Africa. The future offers excellent potential
for those ready to seize opportunities and explore
exciting new avenues. ■
The SAIEE Student Chapters of CUT (Central University of Technology, Free State) and the Motheo TVET
College attended the National Maize Producers’ Organisation (NAMPO) Harvest Day 2025, held at NAMPO
Park in Bothaville. Leanetse Matutoane (CEO, SAIEE) and Motoloki Lephoi (Chairperson, SAIEE Free
State Centre) were on hand to engage with students as they were exposed to real-world applications of
electrical engineering in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
For more information, please visit www.saiee.org.za

Growing and contributing to the
development of South Africa
Fellow and President Veer N Ramnarain is delighted that young engineers are joining
the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers, noting that modern engineers must
be adaptable and collaborative.
What role is played by “Corporate Partners” and
“Partner Associations” in SAIEE business?
SAIEE was established in 1909 when there was
a railway boom. For many years, membership
focussed largely on benefits to individual members.
We realised that to improve on the value-add for
our members, many of whom are employed in
engineering-intensive companies, we needed
to extend membership to the companies. The
intention is to create a platform for corporates to
network with employees from diverse backgrounds,
to engage in technology-related discussions away
from corporate boardrooms.
What is a “corporate forum”?
The corporate forum is a non-commercial, noncompetitive
space created under the banner of
the SAIEE, where the captains of industry can
debate and discuss topical matters of mutual
interest. This is a crucial space for debating some
of the challenges that the country faces. If we
want to speak about the skills deficit for the Fourth
Industrial Revolution (4IR), it is best to get the
employers of artisans, technicians, technologists
and engineers into a common room. The
outcomes of these discussions can be channelled
to the various SAIEE Chapters and Sections for the
exploration of solutions.
What do Voluntary Associations do?
To fully appreciate the role played by Voluntary
Associations (VAs), one needs to go back to when it
all started. The early 1900s was the golden era, with
various associations being formed, primarily driven
by the development of the mining sector and the
railways. SAIEE was established in 1909, as with
other VAs, for like-minded individuals. The first
president of the Institute, CWR Campbell, aptly
stated that SAIEE was, “The club where engineers
belong” and can develop friends and colleagues.
It was also the place where they can also “compare
notes” and keep up to date with developments.
Ultimately a VA is a learned society sustained on the
strength of collective wisdom. During my year as
President, I have emphasised that the relevance of
our institute will only be appreciated if our members
and partners see themselves as growing and
contributing to the development of South Africa.
Have training methods changed in recent years?
Historically, SAIEE focussed on face-to-face training,
either at our well-equipped training rooms at SAIEE
House or at one of the central venues. For technical
training it often makes sense to have these sessions
in a classroom setup. However, since the pandemic,
many organisations have been working remotely.
To accommodate both the classroom training and
remote learning we offer both options, depending
on the course and the demand.
Do you have a strong demand for training?
The demand of training has varied in recent years
due to the evolution in technology. We encourage
our centres to run surveys among members to
gauge what training they prefer. Based on the
response, we find suitable lecturers or trainers for
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
46

INTERVIEW
the Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-
accredited training and advertise those in advance.
Online courses are attracting a larger audience,
beyond those that are located close to the training
venue. SAIEE has well-equipped training rooms at
SAIEE House in Observatory, Johannesburg, with
good parking, so it has become the preferred site
for those based in Gauteng. We source the best
lecturers and trainers based on the course being
offered, so that we maintain the interest, the
quality and the CPD accreditation. The majority
of the lecturers are experts in their field or in
academia.
What other events does SAIEE hold?
SAIEE is involved as partners with various
conferences. We partner with event organisers
when we see there is value to be gained for our
members. However, we are selective in that it has
to be educational and not merely commercial. As
VAs and event organisers, we should not be in
competition with each other. Rather we should
be building on our collective wisdom and efforts
to give all our members a better benefit package.
Does SAIEE play a lobbying role?
We attempt to do this via our Sections and
Chapters, but also via our collaboration with
other bodies like NRS, ECSA, NERSA, etc. Many
of our members play multiple roles in various
legislative bodies, so we use them as the conduit
to influence legislation. As an Institute we also
attempt to provide input into legislative matters
that are out for consultation.
Does SAIEE have chapters in various parts of the
country, and is membership growing?
Chapters and Sections are technical structures of
SAIEE that operate at a central level. We do have
Centres in the provinces. I often say that this is
where the real work takes place in terms of delivery
to our members. Head Office or Corporate Office
is there for governance and policy-related matters.
We have put a great effort into developing our
student chapter at the centres and the uptake
has been phenomenal since the introduction of
zero membership fees for students. This is where
the future leaders of SAIEE will come from. The
sustainability of the Institute will depend on us
having a stable student base.
Which sectors hold the greatest promise for
electrical engineers in SA today?
Due to the 4IR we are increasingly seeing that the
lines between electrical, electronic and computer
engineering are becoming blurred. Engineers
who are willing to adapt and to collaborate across
the traditional streams will be most in demand
in the future. I say this guardedly. Professionals
must be conscious of the ECSA Identification of
Engineering Work, so that they are clear on their
level of expertise and competence. ■
BIOGRAPHY
Veer has three decades of experience in the
power generation, transmission and distribution
industry, mostly at senior or executive level. He
holds a BSc Electrical Engineering Degree, a
Diploma in Engineering Business Management,
an MBA, a Government Certificate of
Competency and is registered as a Professional
Engineer with the Engineering Council of South
Africa (ECSA). His industry influence has been at
tertiary institutions as well as with national and
international professional bodies such as ECSA,
SAIEE, CIGRE, IEC, NRS, NECOM and AMEU. He is
currently the Vice-President Elect of AMEU.
SAIEE President
Veer N Ramnarain
47 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Manufacturing
There are big changes in the steel sector.
The 2020 closure of the Saldanha Steel Mill in the Western
Cape by ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) was a precursor
of more bad news for South Africa’s steel sector. In 2025
the company’s long-steel operations at Newcastle and
Vereeniging were also shuttered, causing the possible loss of 25 000
jobs along the value chain, according to the Steel and Engineering
Industries Federation of Southern Africa.
Iscor was established by the South African state in the late 1920s
to make steel and as a means of industrialising the country. Amcor
was founded as a subsidiary to make semi-processed products in iron
and steel. The first step of privatisation was made with a JSE listing
in 1989, mining was separated from the company in 2001 with the
creation of Kumba Resources and the steelmaking company became
ArcelorMittal South Africa in 2006. The merger of Amcor and mining
company SA Manganese created Samancor.
It was not all bad tidings in 2025 because the ArcelorMittal news
came at about the same time as the announcement that a new
owner had been found for what used to be Samancor’s Metalloys
manganese alloy smelter complex in Meyerton near Vereeniging.
Menar Group, in partnership with Ntiso Investment Holdings, aims
to revive the facility which last functioned in 2020, and help to
reindustrialise the region. To get the smelter going again will take
an investment of about R1.8-billion and the plan is eventually to
create a vertically integrated business. The group owns and operates
a manganese mine in the Northern Cape.
Scaw Metals is making green steel in Ekurhuleni.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Mahindra is mulling a fullscale
manufacturing plant.
Gauteng is home to
another positive steel story. A
consortium known as Barnes
Southern Palace bought most of
the shares held by the Industrial
Development Corporation (IDC)
in Scaw Metals in 2018. The
Barnes component is engaged
in the wire and related products
sector while Southern Palace
is a black-owned investment
holding company.
The IDC then played a
funding role in a new mill built
by the new owners of Scaw
Metals, the first such investment
in a flat-steel mill since the
Saldanha complex was created
nearly three decades ago. Scaw
aims to produce between
300 000 and 500 000 tons of
flat products annually. The first
slabs and coils were produced
in December 2024. Technology
provider Danieli Group claims
that the new process, from
melting through the “new,
technologically advanced
water-treatment” to the
finishing process, “will ensure
Green steel production”.
Automotive stress
and success
The month-long pause on
production of C-Class sedans
at the East London plant of
Mercedes-Benz South Africa in
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
48
PHOTO: Danieli Group

OVERVIEW
Mahindra is assembling bakkies at Dube TradePort.
July 2025 caused a few sharp intakes of breath around the country.
The company stressed that standard maintenance procedure was
being followed.
Although the imposition of high tariffs on South African
manufactured goods and the failure to renew the African Growth
and Opportunity (AGOA) Act will undoubtedly create stress, there
has been some good news for the automotive sector.
Not least was the celebration in 2025 of the five-year anniversary
of one of the country’s most effective Special Economic Zones
(SEZs), the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ).
A partnership between the Department of Trade, Industry and
Competition (dtic), the Gauteng Provincial Government, the City
of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and Ford South Africa, it
has attracted a combined investment of more than R26-billion
and created over 8 000 jobs (Gauteng SOPA). The second phase is
expected to generate more than 4 000 construction jobs and 2 150
permanent jobs along with expected investments of R6.1-billion
from the private sector and a state contribution of R3.9-billion. The
launch of the zone coincided with the production line of Ford being
converted to the making of a new range of Ford Ranger SUVs, which
production now amounts to 200 000 vehicles annually, or 725 per day.
The decision by Metair to establish a new logistics facility at Silverton
is typical of the type of associated investments that followed the
establishment of the SEZ. Several Metair subsidiaries, including Hesto
ONLINE RESOURCES
Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association: www.caia.co.za
South African Textile Federation: www.texfed.co.za
Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa:
www.seifsa.co.za
Harnesses, Unitrade, Automould
and Lumotech, have signed
agreements to supply Ford with
products. Gauteng’s other large
OEMs are Nissan and BMW. UD
Trucks, a part of the Volvo group,
assembles the Croner heavy
commercial vehicle at Rosslyn.
Toyota’s Prospecton plant
in Durban has been a leading
manufacturer since 1972 while
Mercedes-Benz South Africa
(East London), Volkswagen
Group Africa (Kariega) and Isuzu
(Gqeberha) play outsized roles in
the economies of their respective
cities. As in Gauteng, Eastern
Cape companies such as Benteler,
FUCHS, BASF Environmental
Catalyst and Metal Solutions are
among dozens of suppliers along
the value chain.
In August 2025 Mahindra
South Africa launched a new
vehicle-assembly plant at the
Dube TradePort Special Economic
Zone in KwaZulu-Natal. Designed
to assemble more than 1 000 Pik
Up single-cab and double-cab
models per month, the facility
will also be able to handle other
models because of its builtin
flexibility. The new plant is
situated close to Mahindra’s
original assembly site which has
been active since 2018. Since
that facility’s launch, the brand’s
sales have risen appreciably
within South Africa and total
sales now stand at more than
100 000 vehicles.
Earlier in 2025, Mahindra
partnered with the IDC in starting
a feasibility study into building a
full-scale manufacturing plant.
The insights from operations at
the new assembly facility will play
a role in shaping the study. ■
PHOTO: Mahindra South Africa
49 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Construction and property
An association for renters has been launched.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Student accommodation
is a growing sector
Anew association has been established to promote rental
housing as an asset class. As reported by the Financial Mail,
the South African Multifamily Residential Rental Association
(SAMRRA) was started by 13 founders who are responsible
for R40-billion’s worth of property via 75 000 residential units.
In July 2025 the association reported “record-high leasing
volumes in the first quarter of 2025”, a bad debt scorecard below 1%
and the addition of Standard Bank as a new member. SAMRRA states
that “multifamily rental assets are both resilient and investable, even
as the broader macroeconomic environment remains complex”.
One example of a building answering this trend is The
Herringbone, formerly known as 9 Hopkins, in Salt River, Cape Town,
pictured. A joint venture with Divercity Urban Property Group,
TwinCity, Ithemba Property Management, GASS Architecture Studio
and Tri-Star Construction, the development is a mixed-use, affordable
housing development, with 398 residential units and 1 198m² of retail
space at street level.
Other affordable housing projects include Mooikloof Smart City
in Tshwane (a Balwin project), Grand Central Towers in Midrand
(Zelri Properties), Circa in Johannesburg (International Housing
Solutions, HIS) and a huge project near Sandton called Bankenveld
District City (Calgro and Eris Property Group). The last-named
project envisages 30 000 flats in four sizes.
One of the greatest differences between the society that existed
under apartheid South Africa and the post-democratic dispensation
is in the expansion of educational opportunities.
Several companies came into being to provide this new student
population with accommodation at tertiary institutions. Stag African,
ONLINE RESOURCES
Afrimat Construction Index: www.afrimat.co.za
Construction Industry Development Board: www.cidb.org.za
South African Multifamily Residential Rental Association: www.samrra.co.za
which has built a substantial
student housing project at the
University of Fort Hare in the Eastern
Cape, is active in three provinces.
South Point has created a 1 195-
bed complex in Braamfontein to
go with no fewer than 15 other sites
in Johannesburg and it is active
in five other cities. Respublica
offers rooms in six cities.
The boom has been supported
by the fact that many students
are funded by the National
Student Financial Aid Scheme
(NSFAS), providing some security
for investors in the sector.
Controversies related to NSFAS have
recently caused some concern, but
demand remains strong.
TUHF is among the financing
companies that provide funding
for housing projects. In TUHF’s
case, inner-city property investors
are the focus of the company’s
commercial property financing
operations. This includes student
accommodation and a township
backyard rental finance product
called uMaStandi which has
recently been expanded.
Afrimat continues to grow. In
2024 it purchased Lafarge SA and
its subsidiaries, giving it access
to the cement-extender market
through fly-ash operations with
the purchased grinding plant and
cement kilns further expanding
the company’s reach within the
construction materials sector. ■
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
50
PHOTO: property24

Water
Water boards have been consolidated.
Several of South Africa’s water boards have been reorganised
and given new areas of responsibility. This was a part of a
comprehensive reform and restructuring process aimed at
minimising duplication, improving financial sustainability
and improving the delivery of services.
In the North West Province Magalies Water took over many of
the areas previously covered by Sedibeng Water. Despite taking
on a considerable amount of debt, the merging of the two
entities is proceeding well with a revised plan having been
developed to service the bigger area. A Magalies Water project to
upgrade the Vaalkop Water Treatment Plant provided an interesting
instance of mining companies operating in the area supplying
financial support.
Across South Africa, however, the rate of completion of
infrastructure projects is low. The Auditor-General reported to
parliament’s Standing Committee of Public Accounts (SCOPA)
that the value of delayed water projects in 2023/24 was
R2.9-billion. Some 45% of projects were delayed. A related
problem is that the country’s 15 water boards are collectively owed
R21.3-billion by municipalities, according to the Department of
Water and Sanitation (DWS).
One national project that is coming to fruition, after
considerable delay, is the raising of the wall of the Tzaneen
Dam in Limpopo. The project is part of the Groot Letaba
River Water Augmentation Project and will result in the
dam’s storage capacity being increased by 37.7-million
cubic metres which will make a material difference to the
households, farming and business concerns that rely on
its supply. The Letaba Valley is one of the nation’s most
fertile and produces many crops for export. As of June 2025,
the project was at 46% completion.
Elsewhere in Limpopo, the water-board restructuring
process resulted in a fundamental shift in the mandate of
the Badirammogo Water User Association (BWUA), which
now operates as a public-private collaboration, expanding beyond
bulk raw water to include the construction of potable water
ONLINE RESOURCES
Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority:
www.ewseta.org.za
National Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dws.gov.za
Water Institute of South Africa: www.wisa.org.za
SECTOR INSIGHT
The wall of the Tzaneen
Dam is being raised.
OVERVIEW
and reticulation infrastructure.
Operation and maintenance
of potable water infrastructure
remains the mandate of the
relevant Water Service Authority.
The area of operation has expanded
into the rapidly developing
Northern Limb containing many
mining operations, and abstraction
can now be done from both
the De Hoop and Flag Boshielo
dams. An extension plan saw
the construction of an additional
pump station at Spitskop, pictured,
in 2024, along with a reservoir at
Dwarsrivier and approximately
15km of pipelines being added.
BWUA will be the lead agent on
the Olifants Management Model
Programme (OMMP), a R25-billion
capex programme re-sequencing
and accelerating Phase 2 of the
Olifants River Water Resources
Development Project, while
expanding it to include potable
infrastructure and yard connections
for communities. ■
PHOTO: BWUA
51 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Telecommunications
Trade in second-hand iPhones is picking up.
The proposed merger between Vodacom and MAZIV,
which was first announced in November 2021, was finally
approved by the Competition Appeal Court in 2025.
The merger remains subject to final regulatory signoff
from the Independent Communications Authority of South
Africa (ICASA) but it seems that the way is finally clear for the
transaction to be finalised. Cellular provider Vodacom has more
than 40% of the South African subscriber market while one of
MAZIV’s subsidiaries, Vumatel, holds about 30% of the fibre-tothe-home
(FTTH) market. MAZIV is a Dark Fibre Africa company,
which is owned by Community Investment Ventures Holdings
(CIVH), a Remgro holding company.
The merger’s conditions have been revised in the course of
the various hearings and appeals, with the result that MAZIV
has committed to spending at least R12-billion over five years
on broadband infrastructure expansion and maintenance,
particularly in underserved areas. Dietlof Mare, MAZIV Group
CEO, commented, “This approval marks a pivotal milestone
in South Africa’s telecoms evolution. It frees us to harness
substantial capital and accelerate fibre rollout while embedding
the customer-centric conditions we have championed from
the start.” MAZIV’s existing school connectivity programme
currently connects more than 950 schools with free 1Gbps
uncapped fibre.
While some commentators criticised the decision to
block the merger as a discouragement to investment, the
Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA) declared that it
supported the earlier decision to block the merger. WAPA
argued that a monopoly would have been against the best
interests of rural South Africans who can just as easily be
served by smaller operators.
WAPA is a non-profit which aims to be a liaison between
wireless Internet service providers (WISPs), ICASA, network
operators, service providers and consumers. It offers
information to members on regulations and technical training
and lobbies on behalf of the sector.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa:
www.icasa.org.za
State Information Technology Agency: www.sita.co.za
Wireless Access Providers Association: wapa.org.za
SECTOR INSIGHT
Competition Appeal Court
approves big merger.
Vodacom and MTN are the
two biggest providers of mobile
phone services in South Africa,
with more than 70% of the
market between them. Telkom
and Cell C are the other two
major operators.
In 2024 Telkom sold its tower
company, Swiftnet, to Actis
and Royal Bafokeng Holdings
for R6.75-billion. Anticipating
increased traffic as use of data
grows, Swiftnet currently has
3 699 towers (with a further 2 000
permitted) across South Africa.
The world’s largest submarine
cable system, 2Africa, has arrived
on South Africa’s coast. The
2Africa con sortium includes
Vodafone, Bayobab (formerly
MTN GlobalConnect), Orange,
center3, China Mobile
International, Meta, Telecom
Egypt and WIOCC. A report has
estimated that the cable’s
economic continental impact will
be between $26.2-billion and
$36.9-billion, or between 0.42%
and 0.58% of Africa’s existing GDP.
Second-hand iPhones (and
iPads and iMac laptops) are
selling well at 32 iStores around
South Africa. TechMarkit, a South
African company selling secondhand
technology, has opened
bricks-and-mortar branches in
Gauteng after starting out as an
online store. ■
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
52

ICT
Rural schools are getting connected.
OVERVIEW
SECTOR INSIGHT
Cape Town data centres
are increasing capacity.
Fibre Internet service provider Net Nine Nine has provided
free fibre to 20 schools, pictured, in nine areas across the
Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Free State provinces. These areas
include Kagiso, Bekkersdal, Westonaria, Phuthaditjhaba and
Kwa-Guqa. The focus of the programme is on government primary
and high schools within the company’s coverage area that do not
have access to affordable Internet.
In September 2025 the company hosted a Business and Career
Expo in the Botleng township in Delmas, population 7 399. Net
Nine Nine’s point of difference is in the affordability of its packages,
thus the focus on rural and underserved areas. A “Choko” fibre
package allows streaming on five devices and unlimited data at
20Mbps download and 10Mbps upload for R379 per month.
As South Africa joins the global trend towards online shopping,
data centres are going up all over the country. The latest to join the
trend is software company Oracle which has chosen Johannesburg
as the headquarters of its African cloud region. All of the company’s
cloud regions (data centres) worldwide will be 100% powered by
renewable energy.
Africa Data Centres (ADC), part of Cassava Technologies, has
centres in Johannesburg and Cape Town and announced in 2025
a doubling in capacity of the Cape Town facility, which now has
three halls. Funding for the expansion was primarily provided by
the International Development Finance Corporation of the US
government, in the form of a $300-million loan.
Teraco, which stores data in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape
Town, has also launched an expansion project at its Cape facility.
The CT2 campus in Brackenfell will be increased from 18MW to 30MW
capacity (Business Times).
ONLINE RESOURCES
Business Process Enabling SA: www.bpesa.org.za
Independent Communications Authority: www.icasa.org.za
Technology Innovation Agency: www.tia.org.za
With e-commerce
having been turbo-charged
by the Covid epidemic,
online sales increased to
R30-billion in 2020, a rise of
66% over the previous year
(ITA). This reached R71-billion
in 2023, according to a World
Wide Worx report. Clothing
and groceries are the biggest
sellers, with most supermarkets
aggressively rolling out delivery
apps, resulting in the resurrection
of the buzzing 50cc motorbike in
many neighbourhoods. In May
2024 Amazon launched its online
shopping experience, offering
20 product categories and 3 000
pickup points.
Among the leaders in
e-commerce are Takealot,
Shein and Bash, the platform
of TFG, formerly known as The
Foschini Group. More than 500
brands can be purchased using
TFGMoney, a bank account
created with TymeBank.
Other successful e-commerce
retail operations include
Sixty60 (Checkers), Massmart
(Makro, Game and Builders) and
the JD Group (Everyshop). TFG is
building a 75 000m² distribution
centre in Gauteng with the
intention of delivering 70% of
all its online sales, and all of
its fashion items, through that
single site. ■
PHOTO: Net Nine Nine
53 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Tourism
African arrivals are boosting the tourism sector.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Three queens visited
Cape Town in the 2024/25
cruise season.
Africa is proving a rich source of visitors for the South
African tourism industry. In 2024, 74% of arrivals into
South Africa were from SADC countries with another 2%
visiting from other parts of Africa. Domestic travellers
spent R430-billion within the country. The sector contributes 9% to
South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP).
New flights and improved visa regulations have led to some
specific upticks in arrivals, for example from Brazil and Ghana,
respectively by 126% and 248%. LATAM and SAA started flying
directly to Brazil in 2023 and visa waivers were introduced for Ghana
in the same year.
The campaigns to attract direct flights to Cape Town and
Johannesburg are paying off again, after the hiatus of Covid. The
Gauteng Air Access Network has been reestablished and has
secured direct flights to Oliver Tambo International Airport from
airlines such as Eswatini Air, Air Algérie, Air Belgium and Air China.
Airlink has signed deals with Qatar Airways, Emirates and
United Airlines, giving travellers easy access to a range of Southern
African destinations and St Helena. Single-ticket arrangements
and one-stop baggage check-ins will facilitate easier travel in a
difficult time. Airlink also has a service that connects travellers
with certain game lodges. Airlink boasts an on-time performance
consistently better than 95%.
In 2024 the Cape Town Cruise Terminal had the unusually royal
experience of having both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria
docked together. This was the first time it had happened and
ONLINE RESOURCES
African Business Travel Association: www.abta.co.za
South African National Parks: www.sanparks.co.za
South African Tourism: www.southafrica.net
served as a marker of the rise
of the Western Cape to the first
rank of cruise destinations. In
April 2025, another of Cunard’s
queens came to visit. The Queen
Anne, pictured, was on her
maiden trip to Cape Town and
on her way around the world
and to becoming the 14th ship
in Cunard’s history to complete
a full world voyage. With nearly
3 000 guests, Queen Anne
became the largest ship to make
that journey. The economic
impact of cruises for the Western
Cape grew from R1.2-billion in
the 2022/23 season to R1.32-
billion in 2023/24 (SOPA).
The Durban Cruise Terminal,
completed in 2021, is expecting
255 000 cruise visitors in the
eight months to June 2026,
which will contribute more than
R1.8-billion to the city’s economy
(eThekwini Municipality).
A landmark in V&A
Waterfront in Cape Town
has changed hands. After a
substantial refurbishment the
InterContinental Table Bay Cape
Town opened in late 2025 as an
IHG Hotels & Resorts property
under the management of Sun
International. With more than
one-million rooms, 20 brands,
6 845 hotels and one-million
rooms, IHG has plans to expand
in Africa. ■
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
54
PHOTO: Wesgro

Banking and financial services
Banks are competing for SME business.
OVERVIEW
Headlines in the Business Times in 2025 gave notice of a
distinct trend in the banking sector: “FNB takes ATMs to
spaza shops”, “Nedbank gears up to take on ‘the streets’”
and “Capitec sets sights on township SMEs”. Several banks
are competing for larger shares of the small, medium and microenterprise
(SMME) market.
The subheading of the article about Capitec highlighted other
notable facts: “As SA’s biggest bank by customers’ eyeballs the
underserved banking market,
its biggest challenge will be
that it’s still a cash economy.”
Journalist Dineo Faku noted that
Capitec’s 24-million customer
base is the country’s biggest,
a remarkable achievement
for a bank founded in 2001.
It is continually expanding its
offerings and reported that the
year ended February 2025 saw
a 25% increase in its funeral and
life cover policies. Capitec’s 2019
purchase of Mercantile Bank was
a first foray into the business-banking market. It was renamed
Capitec Business Bank in 2024.
Regarding the cash economy challenge, Capitec, like every other
bank, is working on its digital platform to attract more customers.
The bank that exists only in the digital space, TymeBank, is also
expanding its suite of services and its geographic reach with a
focus on South-East Asia. The Competition Tribunal has approved
TymeBank’s purchase of Retail Capital, a fintech SMME funder and
a deal with retailer TFG (which includes 34 brands in its stable)
has further expanded the bank’s reach in South Africa. TymeBank
will be renamed GoBank in the first half of 2026.
Financial services company Old Mutual, pictured, has been
granted approval by the Prudential Authority to establish a bank.
With more than 30 000 employees in 14 countries, Old Mutual is
ONLINE RESOURCES
Association for Savings and Investment South Africa: www.asisa.org.za
Chartered Institute of Government Finance, Audit and Risk Officers:
www.cigfaro.co.za
Financial Sector Conduct Authority: www.fsca.co.za
SECTOR INSIGHT
Old Mutual has permission
to start a bank.
best known for insurance.
Three other new banks are in
the pipeline and have received
regulatory approval: the Young
Women in Business Network
(YWBN) Mutual Bank, Postbank
(a state entity) and the SA
Innovative Financial Services
Cooperative (SAIFSC), which
will be run by the Department
of Women, Youth and People
with Disabilities.
The approval by the Financial
Sector Conduct Authority
(FSCA) of amendments to
the requirements for listing is
working well for the JSE. The
137-year-old institution and
the largest stock exchange in
Africa experienced a downturn
in activity over several years,
with several large companies
delisting. The JSE’s Market
Segmentation Project has
created two distinct segments,
Prime and General, a tailored
level of regulation that aligns
with the size and liquidity
of issuers. More than 22
companies have transitioned
from the Main Board since
the change was introduced
in 2024. Trading in new bonds
more than doubled in 2024
compared to 2023 and the
possibility of state-owned
enterprises (SOEs) listing could
generate increased activity. ■
PHOTO: Old Mutual
55 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Development finance
and SMME support
Giving new meaning to building a business.
SECTOR INSIGHT
SME Connect leverages the
supply chain of corporates.
One often reads of entrepreneurs “building” their
businesses. In the case of Tsakani Masia, that’s exactly
what she did to create the hotel that she now owns and
runs in the far northern reaches of Limpopo Province.
The 120-room four-star Premier Hotel Thohoyandou, pictured, is
a subsidiary of Premier Hotels & Spa and was built for R194-million,
of which R141-million was financed by the Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC). Standard Bank financed the balance for Masia,
whose construction company did the project’s building work.
The IDC is one the country’s biggest institutional investors and
at head office level, large strategic investments are made in sectors
like steel and agricultural. Provincial offices, such as the IDC office
in Limpopo, support a wide variety of ventures in sectors that are
most likely to be sustainable and which will create jobs. In the case
of the hotel, there were construction jobs and long-term jobs both
at the hotel itself and in supplying services to it.
The IDC also has a product called SME Connect. A collaborative
model sees the IDC provide funding and business support while
a corporate might guarantee to buy goods or services from the
entrepreneur. All large companies have Supplier Development
programmes (SD) and Enterprise Development programmes (ED),
which aim to nurture small businesses.
Another IDC programme targets particular strategies within a
sector. The IDC sometimes manages funds on behalf of other entities,
such as the National Department of Tourism in the case of the Green
Tourism Incentive Programme
(GTIP). This programme has
been established to support
tourism operators wanting to
install technologies that will
help them save energy and
water. Grants are issued up to
R1-million.
A major source of work for
SMMEs is South Africa’s national
road agency, SANRAL. In the
Northern Cape, the agency
recently distributed two new
Routine Road Maintenance
(RRM) contracts in the John
Taolo Gaetsewe District. The
agency uses projects such as
these to create opportunities
for small businesses to
contract for parts of the larger
contract, to offer skills training
and to encourage enterprise
development.
Maintenance of the N14
includes grass cutting, removal
of alien vegetation, cleaning
of culverts, clearing of litter at
rest areas and keeping the road
reserve and the fences clean
and is expected to create work
for five years.
SANRAL Western Region
Transformation Officer, Morné
Windvogel, remarked, “We
are available to do pre-tender
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
56
PHOTO: Premier Hotels & Spa

OVERVIEW
training that capacitates you to submit compliant, competitive
and profitable tenders. We also, through our various partnerships
with industry players, assist with access to finance, registration,
skills development and business development.”
In the North West, the Provincial Government is investing
in digital infrastructure. SMMEs will be able to use the Mafikeng
Digital Innovation Hub as a co-working environment and to get
support in using digital tools. In Rustenburg, Impala Rustenburg has
invested R8.6-million in the development of an Economic Inclusion
Centre that serves as a small business hub for SMMEs in and around
the mining community. Apart from the physical facilities on offer,
advice on market access and funding is also available.
In Mpumalanga, the Premier’s Youth Development Fund has
made allocations in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing,
mining and transport and logistics. Since it was launched, the
fund has disbursed R140-million to businesses in each one of the
province’s 17 local municipalities. In order to further spread the
reach of the fund, roadshows are to be held in rural areas.
The provincial government is committed to allocating 30%
of the provincial procurement budget to enterprises owned by
women, youth and people with disabilities.
The Premier’s Youth Development Fund is an initiative intended
to empower young people, women and disabled people. An
allocation of R257-million was made in the 2024 financial year to
support 238 youth-owned enterprises.
Research shows that a high percentage of SMMEs in
Mpumalanga are in the trade and accommodation sector. Whereas
the national figure is about 43%, in Mpumalanga it is closer to 50%.
The Gert Sibande Centre for Entrepreneurship in Evander hosts
a Rapid Incubator. The aim is to promote and develop young
entrepreneurs in the province. The Centre was established in 2015
through a partnership between the Gert Sibande TVET College,
the DSBD and the University of Johannesburg. Entrepreneurship
Development is one of the subjects on offer at 90 Youth
Development Centres which are being established.
In 2023 the SA SME Fund set up its third fund, a dedicated
venture capital fund. The first close was reached with a figure
of R700-million, achieved with some support from the pension
fund sector. The SA SME Fund is a fund of funds, investing in fund
managers who will support startups and new ventures, rather
than itself investing in projects. It was established with the support
ONLINE RESOURCES
Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa: www.idc.co.za
National Department of Small Business Development: www.dsbd.gov.za
Small Business Institute: www.smallbusinessinstitute.co.za
Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency: www.sedfa.org.za
of 50 of South Africa’s biggest
companies and its first fund had
a broad remit, which included
fintech, biotech and supporting
universities in turning research
into business ventures. The
focus of the second fund was
debt funding.
Tsakani Masia built the hotel
she owns.
The Small Enterprise
Development Agency (SEDA)
and the Small Enterprise Finance
Agency (SEFA) merged with the
Cooperative Banks Development
Agency (CBDA) to form the
Small Enterprise Development
and Finance Agency (SEDFA) on
1 October 2024. The merger was
made possible by the National
Small Enterprise Amendment
Act 2024, which was signed by
President Cyril Ramaphosa on
23 July 2024. ■
PHOTO: Standard Bank
57 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Education and skills training
A university spinoff is in orbit.
Stellenbosch University has one of the most developed and
successful business-incubation programmes in the country.
The latest success story relates to a company building
systems to control satellites that was born in the
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. CubeSpace
specialises in Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS)
for small satellites.
The company began life under the wing of Innovus, the
university’s support division for entrepreneurs wanting to take their
ideas to market. Through the University of Stellenbosch Enterprises
company, the university sometimes takes a stake in new ventures
and is currently invested in 30 such ventures. In 2024 CubeSpace
attracted R47-million in venture capital from Savant Venture Fund
and the University Technology Fund (UTF), itself a vehicle devoted
to commercialising innovation and intellectual property generated
on campuses. Launched in 2020 with the support of the SA SME
Fund, UTF was an innovative funding platform and has since grown
its portfolio to a total of three investment funds covering different
stages of the entrepreneurial cycle.
A number of colleges and universities in South Africa offer courses
in entrepreneurship and business management. The Centre for
Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at the University of the Western
Cape encourages entrepreneurship across faculties and actively works
to provide opportunities for students to market their products.
With the establishment of Sol Plaatje University in the Northern
Cape and the University of Mpumalanga, every South African
province now has a university. The Sefako Makgatho Health
Sciences University in 2014 became the country’s most recently
Satellite control systems were incubated at Stellenbosch University.
SECTOR INSIGHT
TVET colleges will focus on
renewable-energy skills.
certified university, having
previously been a campus of the
University of Limpopo.
South Africa has 26 universities,
of which 11 are traditional
universities (academic in focus,
degrees are awarded), nine
are universities of technology
(vocational emphasis, diplomas
and certificates are awarded) and
six are comprehensive universities
which offer a combination of both
types of qualification and can
confer degrees and diplomas.
Since 1998, South Africa
has had Sector Education and
Training Authorities (SETAs).
These vocational-skills-training
organisations were established
by an act of parliament and
there are currently 21 of them,
including those which oversee
manufacturing (merSETA),
banking (BANKSETA), chemical
industries (CHIETA) and energy
and water (EWSETA). SETAs
create and manage internships
learnerships, internships, shortcourse
skills programmes and
apprenticeships. Registered
employers with an annual payroll
above a certain threshold must
pay the Skills Development
Levy, which is collected by
SARS and funds SETAs. The
levy is calculated at 1% of the
total payroll. Employers must
submit a Workplace Skills Plan
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
58
PHOTO: CubeSpace

OVERVIEW
supports training programmes
and research initiatives.
The University of Mpumalanga is growing fast.
to the relevant SETA. SETAs are well placed to act as the linking
factor between tertiary institutions and private companies or to
ensure collaboration between NGOs and industry. Every industry
is covered by the SETA network. This occurs within a National Skills
Development Strategy.
There are 50 TVET colleges (on 364 campuses) which offer
vocational, occupational and skills training. Qualifications include the
National Certificate (Vocational), NATED / Report 191, NQF Full Time
and Learnerships. Short courses are also available at TVET colleges.
The five-year period to 2025 has seen a realignment of the
TVET programme, according to an official quoted in the Sunday
Times. Where skills were being taught that did not suit industry
requirements they have been dropped, and theoretical and
practical training are now being offered together. Although there
are about 500 000 students at TVET colleges, the Department of
Higher Education wants that number to be much higher. Areas of
focus for future skills training will be in renewable energy (including
hydrogen) and sustainable infrastructure development.
A key element of TVET colleges is to deliver relevant priority skills
to South Africa’s labour market, with an emphasis on partnerships
with other tertiary institutions and the private sector. To boost skills
training and to increase the number of artisans in the country, the
DHET introduced Centres of Specialisation at TVET colleges around
the country. They aim to produce: a skilled and capable workforce;
increased availability of intermediate-level technical skills; increased
delivery of qualified artisans in priority trades.
The National Skills Authority directly funds bursaries, helps fund
infrastructure at training institutions such as TVET colleges and also
ONLINE RESOURCES
National Department of Higher Education and Training:
www.dhet.gov.za
National Department of Science and Innovation: www.dst.gov.za
TVET colleges: www.tvetcolleges.co.za
Private sector growth
Three large companies are listed
on the JSE. Curro has grown
rapidly since its establishment in
1988 and continues to operate
purely within the primary and
secondary school market. A
number of acquisitions has seen
the Curro offshoot Stadio expand
its presence in the tertiary and
online education sector. AdvTech
is a seasoned participant with
several divisions.
Stadio has more than 50 000
students across three institutions
(December 2024). Milpark
Education is the online offering,
AFDA offers accredited degrees
and higher certificates in film,
performance, entertainment,
business and technology while
Stadio Higher Education is the
result of the merger of Southern
Business School, Embury
Institute for Higher Education,
LISOF and Prestige Academy.
Stadio’s revenue for 2024 was
R1.6-billion.
AdvTech runs four divisions,
which garnered income in
2024 of R8.5-billion. Apart from
Schools, AdvTech International
and a Resourcing Division, the
Tertiary Division is large and
diverse. Within the Tertiary
Division, the Independent
Institute of Education (IIE) has a
total of 25 sites registered with
the DHET, of which Rosebank
College and Varsity College are
the most widespread brands.
In addition, AdvTech has three
non-IIE brands, including a
catering school, which has
seven campuses. ■
PHOTO: UMP
59 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026

OVERVIEW
Transport and logistics
Private operators will run parts of the rail network.
SECTOR INSIGHT
The Durban High Court has
ruled in favour of a 25-year
container terminal deal.
Transnet, the state utility responsible for logistics, is in the
process of opening up various aspects of its rail and port
businesses to the private sector.
After several years of declining volumes, Transnet Freight
Rail (TFR) has begun a recovery process, but it is felt that the injection
of private-sector operators is still needed to get the country’s
commodities to ports in a way that enables the fiscus to benefit
from exports. A TFR recovery plan was adopted in October 2023
and by November 2024 freight volumes had grown by four-million
tons to reach 160Mt in the 2024/25 financial year. The aim of the
private-sector initiative is to reach an overall target of 250Mt within
five years.
In August 2025 it was announced by TFR that 10 operators had
been chosen from 25 applicants after an earlier tender application
process was largely ignored by the market. This included some of
the most important commodity routes in the country such as the
Sishen-Saldanha iron-ore line and the manganese route out of
the Northern Cape, where TFR will continue to function, but
alongside the new participants. Six of these companies will operate
15 routes in the northern corridor, the central corridor will have
one operator running along two routes while the busy container
corridor between Johannesburg and Durban will see the addition of
four companies on five routes. Among the companies awarded
access to the network are container-ship operator MSC, Menar,
Minrail Solutions and Grindrod, pictured.
As part of the process of allowing private-sector involvement,
Transnet National Ports Authority has awarded a 25-year contract
ONLINE RESOURCES
African Rail Infrastructure Association (ARIA): www.aria.org.za
Airlines Association of Southern Africa: www.aasa.za.net
South African Heavy Haul Association: www.saheavyhaul.co.za
to FFS Tank Terminals to run the
liquid bulk terminal at the Port
of Cape Town.
One of the most consequential
deals concerning the private
sector and Transnet was held up
by appeals to the courts against
the awarding of a contract to
operate Durban’s Container
Terminal 2 (DCT2). The Durban
High Court ruled in October 2025
against Maersk’s APM Terminals
attempt to block the R11-billion,
25-year deal with International
Container Terminal Services (ICTSI).
South Africa has 22 000km
of railway lines and 747 000km
of roads, 325 019 heavy-load
vehicles and the road freight
industry employs 65 000 drivers.
There are 135 licensed airports
in the country, 10 of which
have international status. The
South African Department of
Transport has several agencies
and businesses reporting to it.
Among them are Air Traffic and
Navigation Services Company,
Airports Company South Africa
(ACSA), National Transport
Information System, Road
Accident Fund, South African
Civil Aviation Authority, South
African Maritime Safety Authority
(SAMSA), South African National
Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL)
and Passenger Rail Agency of
A (PRASA). ■
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2026
60
PHOTO: Grindrod

JOHANNESBURG - GABORONE
INTRODUCING
JOHANNESBURG INTRODUCING - GABORONE
INTRODUCING
JOHANNESBURG - GABORONE
JOHANNESBURG - GABORONE
Starting 4 November 2025, South African Airways will operate a double daily service between Johannesburg and
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- AFTERNOON FLIGHT: Departing Johannesburg at 16:25, arriving in Gaborone at 17:20.
- RETURN FLIGHT: Departing Gaborone at 18:00, arriving in Johannesburg at 19:00.
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