House prices edged higher as interest rates drop lower

Average house prices in South Africa reached 3.3 percent y-y in September 2024 (latest available data from Stats SA), showing the strongest annual increase since December 2022 (3.5 percent). September 2024 also saw the first cut in the prime lending rate to 11.5 percent, with two more 25 basis point cuts announced since then, that…

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Sona 2025 – Bold pledges but pace of implimentation need to accelerate

The 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa, presented ambitious infrastructure, housing, and local government reform plans, yet past failures raise doubts about their execution. While R940 billion has been pledged for infrastructure investment over the next three years (to be confirmed in the 2025 Budget), historical trends show that…

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Construction Material price inflation rebound in December 2024

Construction material price inflation gained momentum towards the end of 2024, reaching an annual increase of 4.2 percent in December 2024, against an average consumer inflation increase of 3 percent. On average construction materials rose 6.1 percent in 2024, maintaining its above inflationary increase for the 2nd consecutive year. Several materials showed higher than average…

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Expropriation Act in laymen’s terms and international comparisons

The Expropriation Bill of 2025 has sparked significant concern over its potential impact on property rights, investor confidence, and economic stability. While it aims to address historical land injustices and promote development, critics worry about the inclusion of “nil compensation” in specific cases and the broad interpretation of “public interest,” which could lead to misuse….

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Construction Turnover increase by strongest rate in 7 years in 2024Q3

Contradictory to GFCF estimates for construction released by the Stats SA, the Q3 Quarterly Financial Statistical release, showed the strongest increase in construction turnover in 7 years (June 2016), up 10.8 percent y-y, excluding the post Covid period (2021).   Turnover by medium size contractors, continued its robust growth trajectory for the 4th consecutive quarter with…

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September 2024: South Africa’s Construction Pipeline: A Tale of Resilience Amidst Shifting Trends

The Provincial Construction Pipeline Model (PCPM) reveals a mixed outlook for South Africa’s construction industry as of September 2024. While the overall pipeline contracted by -12.2% year-on-year, certain provinces like the North West (+20.5%) and Northern Cape (+17.9%) showed significant growth. Public sector building activity remained robust, with a 30% increase in awarded projects, though…

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CRMS Index ends flat in November, with gains in Retailers and Suppliers offset by losses in the Contractors and Property Funds indices. 

The Company Results Monitor Service (CRMS) index is a composite index of listed JSE companies performance in terms of market capitalisation values, active in the South African Construction Sector. The Composite CRMS Index ended flat in November 2024, following a near 4 percent drop in October, despite a gains reported in the Retailers and Suppliers’…

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October 2024 Public Sector Building Tender: Troubling Declines with Regional Bright Spots

South Africa’s public sector tender values continued to plummet in October 2024, dropping 73% year-on-year, reflecting persistent declines since the May 2024 elections. Year-to-date building tender values fell 29% year-on-year to R13.8 billion, a stark contrast to the 23% growth seen in 2023. Despite this national downturn, provinces like Gauteng, North West, and Western Cape…

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Retail building rates surge in Q3 of 2024

The South African construction industry saw mixed trends in Q3 2024. Commercial building costs rose by 12.1%, driven by a 43% surge in retail space costs to R16,407/m², while office space costs dropped 8.8% to R18,000/m². Industrial space costs grew 10% to R13,292/m², and residential costs moderated to a 5.7% increase, averaging R11,380/m². Stats SA…

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October 2024 Civil Tenders: Gauteng and Limpopo Lead the Pack, Despite National Decline

South Africa’s estimated civil tender values have shown a mixed trajectory in 2024. While provinces like Gauteng and Limpopo have experienced significant growth, the national trend reflects a decline compared to 2023. In October, Gauteng’s estimated tender values surged to R1.3 billion, marking a 59% year-over-year increase, while Limpopo increased by 86%, exceeding R1 billion….

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