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Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the fundamental physical and organisational systems and facilities necessary for the operation of a society, economy or enterprise. It encompasses a broad range of sectors including transport (roads, railways, ports and airports), energy (power generation, transmission and distribution networks), water and sanitation (treatment plants, pipelines and sewerage systems), telecommunications (fibre-optic networks, mobile towers and data centres) and social infrastructure (schools, hospitals and public buildings). In the African context, infrastructure development is widely recognised as a critical enabler of economic growth, industrialisation and poverty reduction. Many African countries face significant infrastructure deficits, with inadequate road networks, unreliable electricity supply, limited access to clean water and underdeveloped digital connectivity constraining business activity and quality of life. Governments, development finance institutions and private investors are increasingly prioritising infrastructure projects to address these gaps, often through public–private partnerships and regional integration initiatives. Infrastructure investment is capital-intensive and typically requires long-term planning, regulatory frameworks and maintenance programmes to ensure sustainability. Challenges such as loadshedding in the electricity sector highlight the consequences of underinvestment and ageing infrastructure. The African Union's Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa and various national infrastructure plans aim to coordinate and accelerate the delivery of critical projects across the continent. Infrastructure quality and availability are key determinants of competitiveness, trade facilitation and the ability to attract foreign direct investment.

Latest Articles in 60 Seconds

ATIDI plans to double capital to bridge Africa's infrastructure funding gap

African Trade and Investment Development Insurance chief executive Manuel Moses tells Reuters the guarantees platform aims to double its capital to $2-billion within two years, lifting annual guarantee capacity to $20-billion, with talks ongoing with France, other G7 nations and about 30 African countries yet to join. The African Development Bank has already raised its ATIDI stake to 14% with a $125-million injection, part of a continental push for new infrastructure financing models.

BII and Africa50 partner to mobilise infrastructure capital

British International Investment has signed a memorandum of understanding with Africa50 at the Infra for Africa Forum 2026 in Dar es Salaam, committing $20-million to the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund, taking it to a fourth close of about $330-million. The fund, backed by the African Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation and more than 20 African institutions, targets power, transport, water and digital infrastructure to close Africa's financing gap.

Skills pipeline seen as key to delivering South Africa's infrastructure ambitions

AECOM South Africa has launched a Graduate Development Programme alongside its existing Candidacy Programme to prepare young engineers, quantity surveyors and architects for professional registration, saying investment in talent is essential to addressing skills shortages and delivering future infrastructure. LNW Consulting Engineers COO Vashnee Naicker separately argues diverse leadership, including greater representation of women, is critical to South Africa's infrastructure and industrial growth prospects.

AfriSam

Press Office - AfriSam

Infrastructure Updates


Photo of Terence Creamer
South Africa’s infrastructure plans and possible industrial renewal
14th August 2026

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the relationship between South Africa’s infrastructure plans and possible industrial renewal, which came into focus this week when President Cyril... 


Death, taxes, and a third
14th August 2026 By: Riaan de Lange

If you are on a quest to establish what is certain in life, you might be led to believe American statesman Benjamin Franklin, who, in a letter dated November 13, 1789, stated that “nothing can be... 


Western Cape unveils R132bn, 52-project pipeline
14th August 2026 By: Irma Venter

The priority projects in the Western Cape’s newly announced single integrated infrastructure pipeline currently consist of 52 projects to the value of R132-billion, says Western Cape Infrastructure... 


President Cyril Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa outlines next Eskom restructuring objectives, highlights grid industrialisation potential
13th August 2026 By: Terence Creamer

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated the importance of the creation of a fully independent, State-owned transmission company to the development of a competitive electricity market where there... 


(From left) BII CEO Leslie Maasdorp, African Development Bank president and Africa50 chairperson Dr Sidi Ould Tah, Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobisé and Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund CEO Sérgio Pimenta
UK development finance agency signs MoU with African infrastructure project investor
12th August 2026 By: Rebecca Campbell

UK development finance institution and impact investor British International Investment (BII) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with specialist African infrastructure project... 


Breaking barriers and building futures
Breaking barriers and building futures
11th August 2026

Vashnee Naicker's vision for women in engineering “The challenges facing our country, from infrastructure development to industrial growth and sustainability, require diverse perspectives,... 


A railway line
Africa's infrastructure guarantees platform plans to double its capital, CEO says
7th August 2026 By: Reuters

African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) plans to double its capital to $2-billion over the next two years, its chief executive told Reuters, as African leaders look to a new... 


The Cape Town city bowl
Trust is the critical infrastructure that drives the economy – WCape Property Development Forum
6th August 2026 By: Irma Venter

Trust is not simply a social value – it is the critical infrastructure that drives the economy, says Western Cape Property Development Forum chairperson Deon van Zyl. Speaking at the Western Cape... 


SARS Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu
Procurement must create resilience and enable growth – Makhubu
4th August 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Procurement should not be measured by whether it secured the lowest price, but whether it creates resilience, enables growth and protects national competitiveness, South African Revenue Service... 


Construction cranes
Mali says mining-backed fund could unlock up to $800m for infrastructure projects
3rd August 2026 By: Reuters

Mali could leverage revenues from recent mining sector reforms to raise up to 500-billion CFA francs ($883.1-million) for energy, water and transport projects, its finance minister said, part of a... 


Tertuis Simmers
Western Cape unveils R132bn, 52-project pipeline
31st July 2026 By: Irma Venter

The priority projects in the Western Cape’s newly announced single integrated infrastructure pipeline currently consist of 52 projects to the value of R132-billion, says Western Cape Infrastructure... 


AfriSam invests in mobile production capacity
31st July 2026 By: Mariaan Webb

Construction materials supplier AfriSam is investing in mobile aggregate production equipment and concrete batching plants as major infrastructure projects increasingly emerge beyond South Africa’s... 


PMI sub-Saharan Africa MD George Asamani
Project management community of practice founded to boost South Africa's public delivery
30th July 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Citizens experience government through the services they receive. The better governments deliver, the more confidence and trust citizens have in government. Therefore, project execution and... 


Registration with the BCCEI is determined by the nature of the work being undertaken, not the size of the contractor or project
Compliance Awareness Critical As Medium To Small Contractors Expand Into Civils Sector
30th July 2026

As infrastructure investment across South Africa increasingly shifts towards road rehabilitation, municipal wastewater upgrades and broader public infrastructure maintenance, a growing number of... 


RMB opens Beijing advisory office
24th July 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Corporate and investment bank Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has established Rand Merchant Advisory Company, in Beijing, China, as part of its Asia-Africa corridor strategy, which positions it closer to... 


Public and private projects named as finalists in CESA Aon 2026 engineering awards
24th July 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Large and small engineering projects in South Africa, developed for private companies and public organisations, have been named among the finalists in the CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards... 


South Africa's Infrastructure Crisis Has a Silver Lining: Meet the Engineers Fixing It
South Africa's Infrastructure Crisis Has a Silver Lining: Meet the Engineers Fixing It
24th July 2026

Water outages, ageing power infrastructure, potholed roads and failing municipal systems have become a daily reality for citizens across South Africa. Behind the headlines, however, is a less-told... 


An image of McKinsey and Company Johannesburg partner Gerhard Nel
Tech-driven project management key to bridging infrastructure gap
24th July 2026 By: Nadine Ramdass

While the African continent has a significant infrastructure project pipeline, as well as access to capital, the continent struggles to consistently turn investment into completed projects... 


SA's young award-winning engineer shares 10 practical tips to build a successful engineering career
SA's young award-winning engineer shares 10 practical tips to build a successful engineering career
22nd July 2026

South Africa urgently needs more engineers to help solve critical challenges in water, energy, transport, housing and municipal infrastructure. Yet, while thousands of engineering students graduate... 


Image of Bantu Holomisa
Holomisa calls for practical partnership plan to transform SANDF infrastructure
21st July 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

The Department of Defence and Military Veterans is shifting toward practical public-private partnerships to modernise its vast infrastructure and leverage strategic State assets. However, Defence... 


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