South African companies are leading the investment charge

Dear Fellow South African,

The success of the sixth South Africa Investment Conference two weeks ago, where we secured a record R890 billion in investment pledges, reflects renewed confidence in our economy.

It was also a milestone in what has been a difficult journey to rebuild our economy in the wake of years of slow growth, a decade of state capture and prolonged periods of load shedding.

Even as we make progress in removing the impediments to investment, the global landscape has become increasingly uncertain and competitive. South Africa is just one of many economies vying for investment at a time when many investors are unsure about the direction of the world economy.

That we have been able to realise a record value in investment pledges despite this difficult climate is an indication of how far we have come.

It is significant that a substantial share of the investment pledges announced at the 2026 conference were domestic in origin, and encompass a mix of new commitments and capital investments that had already been planned. Each of these investments – whether newly-announced or in the pipeline for some time – is significant, because each required a deliberate choice. Each investment decision is shaped by the credibility and stability of the economic environment and expectations of return on investment.

The decision by domestic firms to accelerate or reaffirm investment in their own country is a measure of confidence. These investors, who know the country and its conditions best, are signalling to international capital that this is an economy that is stable, on an upward trajectory and ripe for investment.

Another significant feature of the commitments is the diversity of industries into which investments are being made. Most of the investments are going into sectors that we have prioritised for accelerated growth and job creation. These include established industries like mining and beneficiation, agro-processing and tourism. We have also seen substantial investments in renewable energy, the green economy and the digital economy.

The outcomes of the 2026 Investment Conference have encouraged us to set our sights even higher, to mobilise R3 trillion in investment over the next five years. To do so, we will count on higher levels of domestic investment.

We will also count on the support and involvement of all sectors of society. Last month, I had an opportunity to attend a summit on growth and jobs organised by News24. It brought together a broad range of South Africans and international experts to discuss practical ways to drive far higher levels of employment. It was a show of commitment and determination from across society to grow our economy.

The success of the sixth South Africa Investment Conference is the result of this determination and our sustained investment drive. As government, we are continuing to improve the investment climate through far-reaching structural reforms and transformation.

Investments cannot be realised under conditions of policy uncertainty. The reform and transformation processes will continue apace to resolve longstanding challenges not only in areas such as electricity, water and logistics. We will continue to foster transformation and reforms in various areas that will improve the lives of our people and continue to create a conducive environment for investment.

We will continue to take decisive steps to root out corruption, to prevent extortion at construction sites and to break the back of the illicit economy.

We will continue to support existing and new industries. The State is playing a catalytic role in domestic investment, financing large scale infrastructure projects as part of our R1 trillion infrastructure build programme over the next three years.

Our investment drive does not start and end with the Investment Conferences. We continue with our outward investment missions in search of new markets and to consolidate existing trade ties. We continue to convene structured business forums on the sidelines of bilateral engagements, including state visits and bi-national commissions. As we have done in the past, we continue to prioritise targeted, one-on-one engagements with investors during international trips.

In the last week, I had a valuable engagement with US companies operating in South Africa at the Annual General Meeting of the local American Chamber of Commerce. Later this week, I will be meeting Spanish companies during a visit to Spain.

As we reflect on the progress made over the last few years, and as we tally up the investment pledges that have been made to date, we must always look ahead. Our economy is starting to pick up pace, more jobs are being created and confidence is improving. Our economy is increasingly better positioned to take advantage of the technological shifts underway in the world. This bodes well for faster growth and greater investment.

Some people have said that our target of R3 trillion in new investment over the next five years is unrealistic. Yet, building on the momentum that has been created, drawing on the efforts of all South Africans, there is no reason why we cannot achieve it.

With best regards,

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