The South African Construction Sector

The South African Construction sector focuses on all major contractors as well as emerging small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) that include formal contractors registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and non-registered micro-contractors that operate informally. Government-led initiatives to transform the sector and support the empowerment of SMMEs have resulted in significant restructuring of the industry and the emergence of new players. Smaller building companies, largely involved in the residential building market, are set to benefit from the government’s drive to empower SMMEs while emerging building contractors are expected to become increasingly involved in small-scale and medium-scale public projects.

Current Conditions

South Africa’s construction industry remained under pressure during the final quarter of 2017, with general building and civil construction contractor confidence indices tumbling sharply. However, following the recent inauguration of Cyril Ramaphosa as President of South Africa, the mood appears to have lifted. Delivering his maiden State of the Nation (SONA) address in February 2018, President Ramaphosa stated that investment in infrastructure was central to the restoration of economic growth, service delivery and job creation. Although the amount allocated to large public infrastructure projects in the February 2018 Budget decreased by 12% in nominal terms down to R834.1bn, stakeholders expressed optimism that the amount would be spent on much-needed infrastructure projects.

Report Coverage

Profiled in the report on the South African construction sector are 67 companies ranging from major listed players and their subsidiaries to building and civil construction start-ups identified through the South African government’s National Gazelles Programme. These include TCM Developments and Lakeshore Trading, a general construction and renovations company that employs 22 people. Also profiled are TN Molefe Construction (Pty) Ltd and the newly incorporated emerging company, Axsys Projects, which have entered into a development alliance with Stefannuti Stocks under the Voluntary Rebuilding Programme.