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 said the next phase of the South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) must be defined by implementation rather than promises.
"Our credibility as an economic partner will increasingly be defined by our ability to translate pledges into projects, and projects into tangible development outcomes," the Minister said.
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Simelane, who chaired the Economic Diplomacy and Economic Cooperation plenary at the conference, emphasised that economic diplomacy should be measured by its impact on communities both in South Africa and across the African continent.
Positioning South Africa as a gateway to Africa
The Minister said the conference is not only about attracting investment into the country, but also about positioning South Africa as a gateway to broader African opportunities.
"It is fundamentally about positioning South Africa as a platform for shared continental growth and opportunity," she said.
She 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, Simelane said the SAIC has served as a key instrument of economic diplomacy, translating diplomatic engagement into tangible investment commitments, partnerships, and implementation outcomes.
"Our message to the global investment community remains clear: South Africa is open, ready, and available to lead in partnering for Africa's development," the Minister said.
Simelane also highlighted 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.
Through platforms such as the SAIC, she said government aims to position the country as an enabler of regional value chains rather than a competitor within the continent.
"Economic success in Africa will not be achieved through fragmentation, but through integration, scale and shared prosperity," she said.
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.
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Through platforms such as SAIC, she said the country intentionally positioning South Africa not as a competitor within the continent, but as an enabler of regional and continental value chains, unlocking scale, efficiency, and shared growth.
Focus on key growth sectors
Simelane said the conference is also being used to promote cooperation across sectors critical to Africa's growth, including:
· Energy and the Just Energy Transition: as a shared continental opportunity for sustainable growth and resilience.
· Manufacturing and industrialisation: to deepen regional value chains and support job creation.
· Agro-processing and food security: to drive inclusive growth and strengthen resilience across the continent.
· The digital economy: enabling new forms of cross-border trade, innovation, and service delivery.
