Johannesburg: Human Settlements Minister Thembisile Simelane has urged a shift from investment pledges to tangible delivery, saying South Africa’s credibility now depends on turning commitments into real economic outcomes. Simelane stated that the next phase of the South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) must be defined by implementation rather than promises.
According to South African Government News Agency, Simelane, who chaired the Economic Diplomacy and Economic Cooperation plenary at the conference, emphasized that economic diplomacy should be measured by its impact on communities both in South Africa and across the African continent. She highlighted the importance of the conference in not only attracting investment into the country but also positioning South Africa as a gateway to broader African opportunities.
Simelane noted that strong international participation at the conference was a clear affirmation of growing global confidence in South Africa as both an investment destination and a strategic partner in advancing development across Africa. Since its inception, the SAIC has served as a key instrument of economic diplomacy, translating diplomatic engagement into tangible investment commitments, partnerships, and implementation outcomes.
The Minister stressed South Africa’s role as a strategic entry point into African markets, supported by established institutions, advanced infrastructure, sophisticated financial systems, and a stable regulatory environment. She pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area as central to unlocking these opportunities, offering a single market and more predictable regulatory frameworks to support trade and investment.
Simelane also focused on key growth sectors critical to Africa’s development. These include energy and the just energy transition, manufacturing and industrialization, agro-processing and food security, and the digital economy. Through platforms like SAIC, the government aims to position South Africa as an enabler of regional value chains, unlocking scale, efficiency, and shared growth across the continent.