South Africa’s civil tender market remained under significant strain in the first half of 2025, with total estimated tender values falling by 32% year-on-year to R33.7 billion—a sharp R15.6 billion contraction compared to the same period in 2024. June 2025 reflected this trend, with tender values dropping 37% month-on-month to R4.7 billion and 26% below June 2024. KwaZulu-Natal, while recording the highest tender value in June (R1.1 billion), saw a steep year-on-year decline, while the Eastern Cape and Gauteng bucked the trend with solid increases. Although Q2 2025 saw a 22% quarter-on-quarter rise to R18.5 billion, it remained 19% below Q2 2024 levels. The downturn was driven primarily by KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, with declines also recorded in most other provinces. Only the Eastern Cape posted a consistent year-on-year improvement in both quarterly and half-year figures. In contrast, civil project awards surged 109% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, reaching R65.3 billion, an increase of R34 billion over the previous year. June alone saw an 82% month-on-month spike in awards to R7.2 billion, supported by large projects in Limpopo, Gauteng, and the Western Cape. Q2 awards totaled R19.8 billion, down from R45 billion in Q1 but still…. Read the full report here (available to subscribers)
