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South Africa’s construction labour force remained above long-term averages in Q1 2026 despite a weaker start to the year, highlighting the increasingly uneven nature of the sector’s recovery. While overall employment declined from the previous quarter, labour force levels remained higher year-on-year, with provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape continuing to outperform broader…

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The March 2026 construction materials data highlights a divergence between building and civil-related cost trends, although the underlying drivers appear more cost-led than demand-driven. Building materials recorded relatively stronger inflation, with notable increases in electrical components, cement, and piping on an annual basis, alongside short-term gains in finishes such as paints and ceiling boards. However,…

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The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has outlined a set of risk scenarios highlighting how escalating geopolitical tensions—particularly in the Middle East—could materially worsen South Africa’s inflation and interest rate outlook. In its severe (worst-case) scenario, the SARB assumes a prolonged conflict lasting over a year, with significant disruption to global energy supply routes such…

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The 2025 Q4 construction pipeline confirms that the sector remains in a transitional and uneven recovery phase, with activity increasingly shaped by a structural shift toward infrastructure-led growth. While overall pipeline levels remain under pressure in several provinces, the growing contribution from civil construction, particularly in transport, water and bulk infrastructure, is providing a more…

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IMF downgraded South Africa’s GDP growth outlook to 1.0% for 2026 in the April 2026 World Economic Outlook Update. Treasury’s projected 1.6% growth estimate announced in February 2026, is an important assumption underpinning the R1 trillion infrastructure programme, and a lower growth outlook therefore materially weakens the sector’s delivery outlook. While the overall pipeline remains…

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The February/March 2026 Construction Monitor highlights a South African construction sector that remains under pressure despite a relatively supportive macroeconomic backdrop. Inflation has eased to around 3%, supporting consumer activity—particularly retail segments linked to maintenance and renovations, but this resilience is largely confined to household-driven demand. In contrast, investment-led activity remains weak, reflected in declining…

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South Africa’s 2026 Investment Conference, led by Cyril Ramaphosa in March 2026, secured investment pledges totalling close to R890 billion, signalling improved investor confidence and renewed momentum around economic reform. The commitments span key sectors including energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, property development, and digital infrastructure, with several large-scale projects already identified across provinces such as…

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The Preferred Supplier Survey, pioneered by Industry Insight, evaluates the Market Exposure Rate (MER) of key construction material suppliers within the construction industry. MER is used to measure supplier participation in projects based on their exposure to project values rather than sales volumes. Since 2019 over 6 000 projects valued at R580bn has been surveyed,…

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The February/March 2026 Construction Monitor highlights a South African construction sector that remains under pressure despite a relatively supportive macroeconomic backdrop. Inflation has eased to around 3%, supporting consumer activity—particularly retail segments linked to maintenance and renovations, but this resilience is largely confined to household-driven demand. In contrast, investment-led activity remains weak, reflected in declining…

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Early 2026 data reveals a fragile recovery in civil tender activity, with February rebounding above R6bn on the back of water-sector projects. However, a deep and persistent contraction in awards continues to weigh on the outlook, pointing to a constrained pipeline despite emerging pockets of provincial resilience. Download the latest provincial dataset here (available to…

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