By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  

The 6th Instalment of the South African Investment Conference is currently underway at the Sandton Convention Centre, in which a variety of investors and delegates from around the globe convene for this monumental event in South Africa.

Ahead of the conference, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that South Africa is experiencing significant improvements economically as he also expressed that the government is set to mobilise R2 trillion worth of new investments by the year 2028. 

The Conference was opened up with an address by Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau as he made note of the China-Africa Economic Partnership agreement (CAEPA) as it has secured a pathway to duty-free access for South African exported products into a R3.5m consumer market. 

“We accelerated negotiations with China and Thailand on agricultural protocols and in February this year, we signed the China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement.” said Minister Tau in his address.

Tau also noted the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership (CTIP) which maintains a three trade relationship between South Africa and the European Union which was signed by both Ramaphosa and the European Commission President Von der Leyen.

 “The CTIP is now in active implementation–the inaugural Business-to-government Dialogue was convened here in Johannesburg just three weeks ago, drawing over 150 representatives from industry and government.” said Tau. 

He noted that the EU has mobilised a combined investment package of up to R230Bn for South Africa under the Global Gateway Initiative, which will be used to cover the just energy transition, critical raw materials and pharmaceutical value chains. 

Tau also noted new partnerships with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Saudi Arabia which are guided by the efforts of the presidency, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) as well as the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC). 

President Cyril Ramaphosa also gave an address at the 6th instalment of the investment conference noting the impact the conference has brought over the years and the significance of it being held in Johannesburg.

 “The City of Johannesburg is Africa’s financial capital and home to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the largest and most advanced bourse on the continent” said Ramaphosa in his opening remarks. “We have an economy that has proven itself to be remarkably resilient: it weathered the transition from apartheid, the global financial crisis, years of state capture, a debilitating energy crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic” said Ramaphosa giving praise to longevity of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

 Ramaphosa has noted that under the leadership of the Government of National Unity (GNU) since its inception in 2024, South Africa has recorded four consecutive quarterly growths which went into early 2026 as he noted that this growth has enabled job creation.

 “We are meeting at a time of uncertainty for the global economy. Geopolitical fragmentation, supply chain disruptions from conflicts and wars and trade tensions are radically impacting global capital flows.” said Ramaphosa.

 Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced at the investment conference that he will lower the fuel levy for the month of April. “I will temporarily be lowering the fuel levy for this month of April by R3 and then I’m still discussing what we can do for the next two months” said Godongwana at the Investment conference. 

This announcement references the geopolitical tensions around in the Middle East regarding the war between the US-Israel and Iran since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Beyond project-level facilitation, we are advancing structural remedies. The Omnibus Fast-Tracking Act will enable streamlined licensing, fast-tracked visas for scarce skills, and digitised permits across multiple regulatory domains” said Tau. The Omnibus Fast-Tracking Act serves to accelerate economic and structural reforms with one of its key focuses being energy, logistics and infrastructure development.   

The Midday programme hosted the Energy and Critical Minerals panel, discussions on innovative financing for transformative investment as well as the strategic partnership which highlighted the significance of the globe’s recent desire to invest in Africa. The day continued with insertion of the various break away rooms in which critical investors could participate in sessions regarding Investment Opportunity Commissions and Economic Diplomacy. 

South Africa managed to secure pledge investments totaling up to 889.8 billion rand towards their R2 trillion target for the next five years, “That brings the total to 889.8 billion rand…that’s 81 projects, nine provinces, 22 source markets. Over 230,000 permanent jobs” said Ramaphosa. 

“Today we have with us more than 1000 delegates from more than 50 countries, who believe in South Africa’s potential and see this as a favourable place to invest and do business,” said Ramaphosa in his address

Ramaphosa also announced the launch of the second presidential drive which includes 415 billion rand in confirmed fixed investments as well as 474.8 billion rand from development finance institutions.