President Cyril Ramaphosa told delegates that South Africa remains a young nation with huge potential. He made the remarks while opening the sixth South Africa Investment Conference 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

In a post on X, the President said the dawn of democracy in 1994 secured freedom and unleashed the country’s potential.

President Highlights 32 Years of Democratic Progress at SAIC2026

Ramaphosa opened the conference by noting that South Africa is just 32 years old as a democracy. The 1994 elections marked the dawn of democracy, he said, and set the country on an irreversible path towards progress and shared prosperity.

The event, branded #SAIC2026 and #InvestSA, positions South Africa as Africa’s most credible investment destination. Organisers say the focus has moved from policy talks to bankable projects and measurable outcomes.

Major Investment Commitments Announced

Conference delegates heard details of R415 billion in confirmed fixed investment plus R474.8 billion from development finance institutions. This totals R889.8 billion across 81 projects in all nine provinces and 22 source markets.

These projects are expected to create more than 230 000 permanent jobs. The announcements form part of the second Presidential investment mobilisation drive that targets R2 trillion in new investment between 2026 and 2030.

Government Builds on Past Success and Reforms

The new drive follows the first investment conference series that secured R1.57 trillion in commitments — 26 percent above the original R1 trillion target. More than R600 billion of those pledges have already flowed into the economy.

Officials point to recent reforms in energy, logistics, visas and water infrastructure. They also note the Government of National Unity’s role in recent economic growth, job gains and improved credit ratings.