Cyril Ramaphosa on South Africa's investment appeal amid economic recovery.
Image: Phando Jikelo
South Africa’s improving economic outlook and ongoing structural reforms are positioning the country as an increasingly attractive destination for global investors, President Cyril Ramaphosa said ahead of the sixth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) in Sandton this week.
More than 1,000 delegates from over 50 countries are expected to attend the conference, which has grown into a key platform for promoting investment opportunities since its launch in 2018.
Ramaphosa said the gathering comes at a time when “investors look to destinations that have demonstrated resilience in the face of increasingly volatile global financial conditions,” adding that, “South Africa presents a favourable proposition.”
The President pointed to signs of recovery in the domestic economy, including “four consecutive quarters of growth by the end of 2025,” stabilising national debt and rising employment levels.
He also highlighted improvements in investor confidence, noting that “our sovereign rating was upgraded for the first time in 17 years, and we were removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list.”
Central to the country’s investment case, Ramaphosa said, is a broad programme of structural reforms under Operation Vulindlela, which has targeted key sectors such as electricity, logistics, water, telecommunications and the visa system.
“We have brought load-shedding to an end and are creating a new, competitive electricity market that will ensure energy security and attract investment,” he said.
In the logistics sector, government has moved to open up rail and port infrastructure to private sector participation.
Projects underway include the Ngqura Manganese Export Corridor in the Eastern Cape and the Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal in KwaZulu-Natal. A 25-year concession for Durban Container Terminal Pier 2, valued at R11 billion, was also concluded last year.
Ramaphosa said reforms to the visa regime, including the introduction of a Remote Work Visa and a Trusted Employer Scheme are aimed at attracting critical skills and boosting tourism.
Since the launch of the investment drive in 2018, government has exceeded its initial target, securing R1.57 trillion in pledges by 2024, 26% above its goal. More than 300 projects have been initiated, with 161 either completed or under construction.
“The pledges have not been merely vague commitments and promises, but have materialised as tangible, brick-and-mortar projects that are creating jobs for our people,” Ramaphosa said.
He cited major investments such as the Platreef Mine in Limpopo, backed by Ivanhoe Mines, and BMW’s R4.2 billion upgrade of its Rosslyn plant to produce hybrid vehicles, both of which originated from commitments made at previous conferences.
Looking ahead, government has set a new target of mobilising R2 trillion in investment by 2028, with a sharper focus on implementation rather than pledges.
“As we strive to achieve growth that creates jobs for our people, this next phase will move from pledges towards implementation,” Ramaphosa said.
He said that the conference represents a crossroads of opportunity and ambition, stressing that government remains committed “to staying the course on fiscal discipline, to accelerating the momentum of the reform agenda and to leveraging investment to build an economy that is inclusive, transformed and that benefits all.”
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