Civil tender activity slows in October, as award values surge on major road and power projects
South Africa’s civil construction sector softened in October 2025, with tender values down 15 percent y-y to R6.3 billion, mainly due to weaker activity in Mpumalanga and several inland provinces. However, large project awards surged 56 percent to R10.4 billion, driven by major SANRAL, Rand Water, and Eskom contracts, signaling renewed momentum in infrastructure delivery. KwaZulu-Natal led tender activity for the year, while road and water projects continued to dominate. Despite persistent payment delays and tight margins, profitability and payment discipline improved slightly. The outlook for 2026 is cautiously optimistic, supported by a strong public infrastructure pipeline and improving financial stability in key provinces.
