Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is experiencing renewed investor confidence, driven largely by domestic companies, following the sixth South Africa Investment Conference which secured record pledges of R890 billion.
In his weekly newsletter published on Monday, 13 April 2026, Ramaphosa said the outcome of the conference reflects progress in rebuilding the economy after years of weak growth, governance failures and energy constraints.
“The success of the sixth South Africa Investment Conference two weeks ago, where we secured a record R890 billion in investment pledges, reflects renewed confidence in our economy,” he wrote.
He said the country’s economic recovery has not been without difficulty, pointing to structural challenges that have weighed on growth.
Dear Fellow South African,
The success of the 6th South Africa Investment Conference two weeks ago, where we secured a record R890 billion in investment pledges, reflects renewed confidence in our economy.
🔗 https://t.co/SW2zWiwcDq pic.twitter.com/DojYtXnAyu
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) April 13, 2026
“It was also a milestone in what has been a difficult journey to rebuild our economy in the wake of years of slow growth, a decade of state capture and prolonged periods of load shedding,” Ramaphosa said.
The President noted that a significant portion of the investment commitments came from South African firms, which he said was a strong signal of confidence in the local economy.
“It is significant that a substantial share of the investment pledges announced at the 2026 conference were domestic in origin… Each investment decision is shaped by the credibility and stability of the economic environment and expectations of return on investment.”
He added that local investors are effectively signalling to global markets that South Africa is becoming more stable and attractive.
“These investors, who know the country and its conditions best, are signalling to international capital that this is an economy that is stable, on an upward trajectory and ripe for investment,” he said.
Policy uncertainty
Ramaphosa also highlighted that investments are flowing into key growth sectors including mining, agro-processing, tourism, renewable energy, the green economy and digital industries.
Looking ahead, he said government is aiming to mobilise R3 trillion in investment over the next five years, supported heavily by domestic capital.
“The outcomes of the 2026 Investment Conference have encouraged us to set our sights even higher, to mobilise R3 trillion in investment over the next five years,” he said.
He stressed that improving the investment climate remains central to government’s economic strategy.
“Investments cannot be realised under conditions of policy uncertainty,” Ramaphosa said, adding that structural reforms in electricity, water and logistics will continue alongside efforts to tackle corruption and the illicit economy.
New investment
He also pointed to infrastructure development as a key pillar of growth.
“The State is playing a catalytic role in domestic investment, financing large scale infrastructure projects as part of our R1 trillion infrastructure build programme over the next three years,” he said.
Ramaphosa concluded by reaffirming confidence in South Africa’s economic trajectory, despite scepticism about the country’s investment targets.
“Some people have said that our target of R3 trillion in new investment over the next five years is unrealistic. Yet, building on the momentum that has been created… there is no reason why we cannot achieve it.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
