> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Ramaphosa Places Infrastructure, Digital Connectivity and Project Delivery at the Centre of South Africa’s Growth Drive - URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/ramaphosa-places-infrastructure-digital-connectivity-and-project-delivery-at-the-centre-of-south-africas-growth-drive/ - Published: 2026-08-27T02:44:15.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-27T02:44:15.000Z - Author: Tsaone Segaetsho - Tags: Innovation, FinTech, Technology # President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a faster, more coordinated approach to infrastructure development, highlighting digital connectivity, data centres and technology-enabled infrastructure as increasingly important to South Africa’s economic growth and regional integration. Addressing the sixth Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, Ramaphosa said infrastructure investment was central to the country’s efforts to drive inclusive economic growth and create jobs. He also placed infrastructure development within the broader ambition of connecting African economies, pointing to the need for roads, railways, ports, power infrastructure and digital networks that can support increasingly integrated markets. “We must link mines to factories and farms to markets,” Ramaphosa said. “We must link mobile phones to data centres. We must link businesses to customers.” The reference to mobile connectivity and data centres underscores the growing importance of digital infrastructure alongside traditional physical infrastructure. For South Africa’s technology sector, this includes the infrastructure needed to support cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data-intensive services, telecommunications and digital businesses. Ramaphosa said South Africa’s ability to grow depends on securing reliable energy, sufficient water, efficient ports and railways, functioning roads, digital connectivity and cities and towns that work. The President acknowledged that the country’s infrastructure system had historically been fragmented, resulting in delays, rising costs and projects that failed to reach implementation. Government has sought to address this through stronger coordination under the Infrastructure Development Act and through Infrastructure South Africa’s role in preparing and advancing the country’s strategic infrastructure pipeline. The scale of that pipeline has grown significantly. The estimated capital value of South Africa’s Strategic Integrated Projects has increased from approximately R340 billion in 2020 to more than R1.67 trillion today. The portfolio currently includes 195 public and private-led infrastructure projects across priority sectors. Thirty-two projects valued at approximately R48 billion have been completed, while 55 projects worth more than R407 billion are under construction. Ramaphosa said the next priority was converting the growing pipeline into investment and physical delivery. “We need to convert plans into prepared projects, convert prepared projects into investment, and convert investment into construction,” he said. “Most importantly, we need to convert construction into infrastructure that supports economic activity and improves the lives of our people.” Project preparation is emerging as a major focus of the government’s strategy. Infrastructure South Africa’s R600 million project preparation facility has supported or is supporting 26 projects, while its Adopt-a-Municipality pilot programme is preparing projects designed to unlock R7 billion of investment in municipal trading services. One example is the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, where R1.8 million was spent preparing and packaging a project to replace more than 1,700 kilometres of water pipes. The preparation helped unlock an R800 million debt financing facility from the Development Bank of Southern Africa. For technology and infrastructure companies, the broader project pipeline could create opportunities across areas including digital connectivity, smart infrastructure, telecommunications, energy technology, data infrastructure, engineering software and infrastructure management systems. Ramaphosa also stressed that infrastructure investment cannot be separated from institutional capability. He said simply providing additional funding would not solve municipal infrastructure challenges if the institutions responsible for managing those assets lacked capacity. “Building a new asset without making provision for its operation and maintenance is not sustainable,” he said. The government is also seeking to give investors greater visibility over projects coming to market. The third edition of the Construction Book, released at the symposium, showcases more than R350 billion worth of projects across water and sanitation, transport and logistics, energy and electricity, and municipal infrastructure. The latest edition contains more than 170 projects valued at approximately R264 billion that are expected to enter procurement over the next 12 to 18 months. Government plans to publish quarterly performance reports on the Construction Book, providing greater visibility into progress from project preparation through to procurement and construction. Ramaphosa further connected South Africa’s infrastructure programme to the continent’s digital and economic integration agenda. The country needs infrastructure capable of crossing national borders, but also greater alignment in policies, regulations, standards and institutional arrangements. That could become increasingly important as African economies expand cross-border digital services, data infrastructure, fintech, cloud platforms and digitally enabled trade. The President said the infrastructure challenge would require partnerships between government, business, development finance institutions, commercial lenders, state-owned companies, implementing agencies and technical professionals. Universities and training institutions will also be required to develop the skills needed to support the next generation of infrastructure projects. For Africa’s technology industry, the message from the symposium is clear: digital infrastructure is increasingly becoming part of the continent’s core economic infrastructure. As South Africa moves to turn its R1.67 trillion Strategic Integrated Projects pipeline into investment and construction, connectivity, data infrastructure and technology will increasingly sit alongside roads, railways, energy and water as foundations of economic growth.