South Africa has entered a new phase of growth, with the country securing the highest investment commitments to date at the 2026 South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC).
Investment commitments pledged at the SAIC 2026 range across manufacturing, mining, petrochemicals, renewable energy, telecommunications/ICT infrastructure, tourism and more.
Closing the conference in Sandton on Tuesday (31 March 2026), President Cyril Ramaphosa said the scale of pledges – in value and in the number of projects – marked a significant milestone for the investment drive since its launch in 2018.
“The cumulative value of the pledges made at this conference is the highest we have achieved since the first South Africa Investment Conference. These commitments also represent the highest number of projects.
“Much of this is domestic capital, demonstrating the strong and growing confidence of South African investors in our own economy,” the president said.
The large share of commitments from domestic investors was complemented by a sharp rise in foreign direct investment and participation from development finance institutions.
President Ramaphosa said the breadth of investments across all nine provinces demonstrates that growth is increasingly distributed across the country’s economic landscape.
Major announcements included a R10.4 billion investment by Toyota in KwaZulu-Natal to support the automotive sector’s energy transition, and Sasol’s commitment of R60 billion to modernising operations in Mpumalanga and the Free State.
Other investments span mining, renewable energy, infrastructure and global business services including projects expected to create thousands of jobs, such as Teleperformance’s R145 million investment set to generate 2 600 employment opportunities.
Beyond the figures, the president highlighted South Africa’s structural advantages, including a sophisticated financial sector, advanced infrastructure, abundant renewable energy resources and a youthful population.
He also underscored the importance of the country’s constitutional democracy, noting that the rule of law remains a cornerstone for investor confidence.
“South Africa’s investment case is not in doubt, and the reform agenda has proven to be consistent and measurable,” he said. However, the president cautioned that although sentiment has improved, the country must translate commitments into tangible economic activity. “As we leave this conference, let us carry forward the momentum. This is just the start – we still have much further to go. Let us turn commitments into projects on the ground and translate plans to progress,” he said.
The president reiterated government’s ambition to double fixed investment levels over time, as part of efforts to unlock faster and more inclusive economic growth.
“South Africa is rising. Those who see our economy’s potential and invest now will be rewarded in years to come. We look forward to walking this journey of growth and change with you until the next investment conference,” the president said.
Government-business partnership
President Ramaphosa credited the deepening partnership between government and the private sector as a key driver of South Africa’s economic recovery and reform momentum.
At the closing ceremony of the conference, he said collaboration across business, labour and government has become a defining feature of the country’s growth strategy. “This has been instrumental in enabling economic growth,” he said, acknowledging the role of business in supporting reforms, investment and job creation
He highlighted that this collaboration has extended into key reform areas, including in energy security, logistics performance and crime prevention, under the Government Business Partnership now in its third phase.
“This collaboration reflects a deep and maturing partnership, and a uniquely South African approach to mobilising the skills, energy and talent that we have in abundance,” he said.
The president also extended his gratitude to the sponsors of the conference, which included Afreximbank, Anglo American, African Rainbow Minerals, Coca Cola, The Development Bank of Southern Africa, DP World, Eskom, Google, MTN, Naspers, The National Empowerment Fund, Transnet, South 32, Uber and Vodacom.
He thanked the Department of Trade and Industry, led by Minister Tau, the leadership of InvestSA, Infrastructure South Africa, the Industrial Development Corporation, Brand SA, Transnet, and all SAIC partners for the hard work they put into making the conference happen.
For more information visit: www.sanews.gov.za
