Infrastructure: Building the Foundations for Growth
Infrastructure is one of the clearest areas where South Africa’s development priorities intersect with French expertise and investment.
The country faces significant infrastructure needs across water, sanitation, waste management, transport, energy and urban services. At the same time, government is increasingly looking to public-private partnerships and blended finance to help address investment requirements.
In 2025, South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation identified private-sector participation in areas including non-revenue water, water reuse, wastewater treatment and desalination as priorities. The Infrastructure Fund secured R23 billion for seven large water infrastructure projects.
This creates opportunities that extend beyond traditional construction. Efficient water systems, wastewater treatment, waste-to-value solutions, resource recovery and resilient urban infrastructure require technology, financing, operational expertise and long-term partnerships.
France already has experience in these areas through companies operating in South Africa’s water and waste-management sectors. During Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s 2025 visit to France, the South African delegation visited SUEZ to examine its work in municipal water management and industrial water solutions.
The infrastructure opportunity is, therefore, about more than building new assets. It is also about improving the performance of existing systems and developing sustainable models for their operation and maintenance.
For French and South African businesses, this raises an important question ahead of this month's Business Forum: how can investment, technology and local expertise be combined to deliver infrastructure that supports both economic growth and improved services? Forum registrations for companies in South Africa close on 25 September.
As South Africa seeks to mobilise private capital for infrastructure, the potential for practical partnerships between the two markets continues to expand.
Continue the conversation at the Team France Gala Dinner on 30 September - the grande finale to the Business Forum! Buy your tickets here.
Title image generated by FSACCI using AI with OpenAI.
