Regulatory landscape

South Africa’s overarching Doing Business Reform Vision is “to improve government business regulatory processes by optimising processes and using technology and digitisation to drive business process efficiencies, complemented by associated legislative reform”. South Africa recognises infrastructure as a critical enabler for inclusive and sustainable economic growth as articulated in the NDP. The country’s ongoing investment in infrastructure will ensure both stability and consistency in the planning, investment, implementation and maintenance of infrastructure in the short-, medium- and long-term and will also restore the confidence of the private sector.

The provision of infrastructure as an enabler for investment is linked to the provision of physical and digital infrastructure including energy, water, commercial transport and telecommunications. Whilst the South African government has over the past decade invested in infrastructure, there is a need to significantly scale up the delivery of infrastructure to support the country’s ambitious growth targets. South Africa currently spends about 5.8 percent of its GDP on infrastructure, while the NDP targets a 10 percent GDP spend (National Treasury, 2020). Infrastructure investment is a priority in creating an enabling environment for investment. The South African government is further committed to implementing a long-term, government-led infrastructure investment programme and, in the process, leveraging the participation of the private sector, labour and civil society.