Minister Parks Tau highlights growth momentum driven by energy stability, transport reforms, and investment
South Africa is finally turning the corner on slow economic growth. According to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, green shoots are emerging across nearly all key sectors of the economy thanks to the government’s pro-growth reformist agenda.
“Consistent energy supply, and an improved transport and logistics environment, including the drop in inflation to 3.5% recorded early this year, have had a positive knock-on effect on key sectors of the economy. Mining and Agriculture have both shown strong growth – factors which bode well for sustained growth,” Tau said on Monday.
The Minister emphasised that the four consecutive quarters of growth recorded leading into early 2026 were the result of government-led interventions, notably the successful investment mobilisation drive.
6th South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC)
To further augment growth, South Africa will host the 6th Investment Conference (SAIC) at the Sandton Convention Centre on 31 March 2026. In line with the President’s commitment at the 2026 State of the Nation Address, the conference aims to set the country on an even bolder investment trajectory over the medium term.
“To date, over R600 billion has already flowed into the economy, resulting in the opening of new factories, mines, and various other industrial facilities. These investments play a critical role in South Africa’s national goals of socio-economic development by creating sustainable jobs, reducing poverty, and addressing inequality,” Tau said.
Launched in 2018 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the SAIC has become the country’s premier platform for attracting global and domestic delegates to discuss emerging opportunities. The 2026 conference comes at a time of significantly improved investor perception, following notable progress in addressing critical economic challenges, particularly energy reliability.
Tau stressed that the conference will be anchored on South Africa’s future-focused economic and industrial policies, including targets in the Medium Term Development Plan, the Economic Growth and Inclusion (GAIN) programme, and the New Industrial Policy currently being finalised.
“Over the past year and a half, we have implemented industrial reforms in targeted sectors and incentivised industry to create jobs. We have embarked on market and export diversification through our Butterfly Strategy and are redesigning Transformation through the Transformation Fund and B-BBEE policy review,” he said.
The government aims to attract R2 trillion in new investment commitments over the next five years through this summit. This builds on the success of the previous five-year investment cycle, which concluded in March 2023, raising R1.51 trillion, surpassing the initial target of R1.2 trillion.