South Africa faces a decisive moment in its infrastructure journey, as challenges across power, water, transport and public services increasingly constrain economic growth and social stability.

These pressures form the backdrop to a media roundtable hosted by GIBB, a consulting engineering organisation, where industry leaders, policymakers and professionals examine how sustainability, governance reform and strategic investment can unlock long-term infrastructure development.

Moud Maela, business development manager at GIBB, notes that South Africa has reached an inflexion point, observing that “the cost of inaction is visible every day”. This includes “delayed shipments, service interruptions, rising costs for households and businesses, and jobs that never materialise”. While these impacts dominate public discourse, the panel emphasises that infrastructure deficits also represent a platform for national growth if addressed through collaboration and ethical governance.

Sustainability and economic transformation

For GIBB CEO, Vishaal Lutchman, the problems in the sector, coupled with the global push for sustainability, offer an opportunity for South Africa to tackle its infrastructure issues while promoting sustainability, thus leveraging both fronts for economic growth. He clarifies that when discussions around sustainability occur, there can be confusion:

“We use the term very widely, and we all may have differing opinions on what the definition of sustainability is”. Lutchman says, “We need to start agreeing on what sustainability means to properly engage with it.” Referring to established literature, sustainability is described as resting on three original pillars: society and people, the environment, and the economy. More recently, a fourth pillar has emerged. “As of late, there’s a fourth pillar added on, called culture,” the speaker says, noting that cultural context increasingly shapes sustainable outcomes at the community level.

South Africa’s unique social and economic conditions mean that growth is not just a matter of investment, but of transformation. Lutchman elaborates, “Being one of the most unequal geographies on the planet, we should have been focusing specifically on bridging the gap of inequality towards a sustainable outcome”. Sustainability, in this view, is inseparable from addressing historic injustice and socioeconomic exclusion. Lutchman further cites the constitution as a critical bridge between sustainability principles and infrastructure delivery.

Despite constitutional clarity, Danny Lesiba Masimene, president of the Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBCBE), states that transformation and critically engaging with the social ills of South Africa lack clear enforcement. He goes on to say, “What concerns me is that we have become excellent at defining what the problem is; however, what we don’t focus on is how we address it, because that’s where the difficulty sits”. This imbalance between problem analysis and execution is described as a core obstacle to progress.

Policy and governance emerge as central fault lines. Masimene questions whether existing policies are achieving their intended outcomes, stating that “the policies are not currently achieving the socio-economic reparations that have been intended from the start”. Rising inequality and public frustration are presented as evidence that policy frameworks lack enforcement and accountability.

Technology and innovation are also raised as weak points. Lutchman explains, “We have an increasing ability to acquire data, but we choose not to do so”. He adds that while consumer technology is readily available, South Africa has “become consumers of technology rather than developers”. This dependence is described as exposing the country to global power imbalances and limiting economic sovereignty.

Transformation and procurement reform occupy a substantial portion of the discussion. Referring to the Preferential Procurement Framework, Masimene argues that transformation has been constrained by its narrow application.

“The reason why transformation is moving at a snail’s pace is that we decided to focus transformation only within government,” he says, adding that “we left a big chunk of the economy, which is the private sector, to do as it wishes”.

While South Africa is past its 30 years of democracy, there are still huge inequalities that reflect the previous government’s racial segregation, Masimene adds. “Historically disadvantaged individuals do not have the chance to compete fairly, because they still don’t have equal access or ownership of production.” He notes that established construction companies retain control over supply chains, allowing them to undercut competitors while extracting profit elsewhere.

Localisation policies are acknowledged but criticised for weak enforcement. Masimene points out that while locally manufactured cement is required on public projects, “there is no one to go out there to make sure that localisation is implemented”. Imported materials, he says, continue to displace local manufacturing, with significant employment consequences.

Policy uncertainty further undermines reform. Although new procurement legislation has been approved, Masimene observes that “the act cannot be implemented yet” due to pending regulations. This delay, he argues, stalls transformation and reinforces institutional inertia.

Transportation

Ntshavheni Phidza, EPCM general manager at GIBB, states plainly, “Transportation, connectivity infrastructure is a critical catalyst in the South African economy”. He notes that without reliable networks, South Africa cannot access domestic or global markets effectively.

Weak infrastructure is linked to broader socioeconomic challenges. “We know the consequence,” says Phidza, referring to migration patterns, “people migrate because they cannot do what they want to do in the rural areas”. He attributes this in part to the absence of infrastructure that can connect regions efficiently.

Long-term planning failures are cited as barriers to investment. “If we don’t have a clear vision,” he asks, “where are we going to invest our money?” Without transparent project pipelines, both public and private sectors struggle to commit resources or develop skills sustainably.

Different delivery models are proposed as potential enablers. While public-private partnerships and alternative procurement frameworks exist, concerns remain about inclusivity. Infrastructure expansion is framed as a missed employment opportunity

. “One cannot help to imagine the number of jobs which we can create if we turn South Africa into a construction site, a slogan pushed on the national level yet not realised”, says Phidza.

South Africa’s economic growth is directly tied to its ability to move people and other logistic requirements. Phidza adds that rail and roads are critical to the economic growth of the country, and that the neglected ports will require investment to become enablers of the economy.

Governance and ethics

Lufuno Ratsiku, president of The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), referring to declining infrastructure investment, warns that “opportunities are becoming fewer and fewer by the day”. This decline, he argues, has social consequences, including rising insecurity and public distrust.

Governance is framed as a measurable discipline. “If you are serious about it,” Ratsiku says, “you need to make sure that people are measured through performance contracts”. Ethics, he adds, must carry consequences and cannot remain “packs of documents somewhere there during strategic sessions”.

Professionalisation is also a key enabler within the sector, especially around issues of ethics and governance.

“Why are we so okay with low-professionalisation when it comes to infrastructure development?” Ratsiku asks, comparing unregulated construction practices to medical malpractice.

He warns that infrastructure failures can cost dozens of lives at once, underscoring the need for stricter standards and accountability.

Across the discussion, a consistent message emerges. Sustainable infrastructure in South Africa will not be achieved through policy rhetoric alone. It requires implementation, accountability and leadership capable of aligning infrastructure delivery with social justice, economic inclusion and long-term resilience.