Creamer Media’s ‘Projects in Progress 2024’ report provides a comprehensive overview of developments in South Africa’s economy, as reflected through some of the major infrastructure projects under way across key sectors such as electricity, transportation, water and mining. 

South Africa’s telecommunications landscape continues to expand and evolve rapidly, forming a critical part of the economy and connecting an increasingly diverse population and businesses. As the country adapts to a growing demand for connectivity, mobile and fixed-line broadband services are expanding at an unprecedented rate. Commercial 5G networks have been launched, and fibre networks are extending to more homes, businesses, and rural areas, driving digital inclusion and enhancing access to essential services like education, finance, and healthcare. Despite challenges such as power disruptions, vandalism, and infrastructure theft, the sector remains resilient and continues to see significant investments, especially in next-generation technologies.

Creamer Media’s ‘Telecommunications 2024: SA's telecoms landscape expanding and evolving’ report examines South Africa’s telecommunications sector in respect of its connectivity profile, the trends in the sector, the challenges it faces, policy and regulatory developments, as well as the companies that are driving the sector forward.

Creamer Media's Projects in Progress 2024 report presents a comprehensive overview of the upcoming and ongoing infrastructure projects in South Africa, highlighting key developments in sectors such as electricity, mining, and transportation. Notable projects include the Gas Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, designed to secure 3 000 MW of new-generation capacity through land-based gas-fired power facilities, and the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which aims to procure 2 583 MW from various wind and solar projects. Additionally, significant investments are being made in the mining sector, with Menar's coal and anthracite projects set to boost coal production to 20-million tons a year by 2025. The report also covers major transportation infrastructure projects, such as the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road megabridge projects. The Mtentu bridge, part of this project, will become one of the world's longest main-span-balanced cantilever bridges and the highest bridge in Africa, with a 260 m main span and a height of more than 220 m above the river valley. These projects, among others detailed in the report, reflect substantial capital investments aimed at bolstering South Africa's infrastructure and energy sectors.

Amid the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources, Creamer Media’s ‘Just Energy Transition 2024: Investing in the future’ report underscores the urgent need for this shift to be fair and equitable, ensuring all stakeholders share in both costs and benefits. South Africa's heavy reliance on coal necessitates a commitment to lower emissions driven not only by international obligations but also by domestic concerns, including the looming threat of severe temperature increases. However, achieving this transition presents significant challenges. The report contextualises the Just Energy Transition in the context of South Africa's persistent electricity supply deficit, which has led to severe loadshedding in recent years, potentially impeding the move away from coal-fired electricity. Despite the government’s draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 indicating a rapid increase in renewable energy deployment through public and private procurement, coal will continue to play a significant role in electricity generation. Delving into the intricacies of South Africa's electricity sector, the report highlights the pivotal role of independent power producers, renewable-energy programmes, and the necessity for restructuring and legislative changes. Additionally, it examines how the energy transition intersects with other sectors such as mobility and mining, emphasising the importance of employment and skills development in facilitating a just transition. The report offers valuable insights into the challenges, opportunities and potential benefits associated with a just energy transition.

There is a significant, virtually unparalleled opportunity and “appetite” for Africa’s minerals and metals. Consequently, Africa potentially stands to benefit considerably from this minerals windfall owing to its vast resources and reserves. Creamer Media’s ‘Africa Mining Projects in Progress 2024’ report covers almost 40 mining projects across Central, East, North, Southern and West Africa, all offering very compelling mining propositions given the demand for the minerals and metals required for the worldwide shift towards renewable energy, which is projected to increase threefold by 2040.

Green hydrogen is prominent on the global agenda for creating a cleaner, greener future. The element holds the potential to unlock a new epoch in energy. Unlike conventional fossil fuels, the combustion of hydrogen yields only water vapour and heat as by-products, positioning green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, as a powerful player in the race to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The momentum behind the fuel is strong, and South Africa is very well positioned to produce it. However, it will need to reinforce its supply position in the next two to three years if it wants to be a global green hydrogen supplier that helps meet an exponentially growing demand outlook beyond 2030. It will thus need to shift the focus from mere discussions to the implementation of practical solutions. Creamer Media’s ‘Hydrogen 2024’ report considers the demand and supply of hydrogen, production technologies in the sector, and the investment therein. It also examines the trade of hydrogen, which is still in its infancy, and how African countries could be highly competitive in supplying green hydrogen for local and global consumption.

Creamer Media’s ‘Roads, Rail & Ports 2024’ report reflects upon the current state of South Africa’s roads, delving into the some of the issues that are plaguing the sector such as maintenance backlogs and funding. It also brings to light the challenges that the rail sector is facing with regard to freight and passenger rail, and the state of rail safety. Congestion and inefficiencies at South Africa’s ports are also examined.

Creamer Media’s ‘Automotive 2023: Navigating Change’ report places South Africa’s automotive industry in context. It discusses the effect that the semiconductor shortage has had on the sector, examines the country’s new-vehicle market and developments in the sector in terms of manufacturing and investment by the major OEMs, and considers the important role that the components industry plays in supporting vehicle production and aftermarket services. It also considers South Africa’s automotive policy regime, which has stood out for its long-term vision and unwavering consistency, the goal being to support the production of new-energy vehicles to ensure the sector remains a major contributor to the industrial development of not only the domestic economy but also the African continent.

Creamer Media's ‘Electricity 2023: Resolving South Africa’s ongoing crisis’ report offers a comprehensive examination of South Africa's electricity sector, emphasising the significant challenges posed by loadshedding and its impact on the country's economy. The report delves into Eskom's restructuring, evaluating its generation performance and continuing build programme. Additionally, it probes the intricate and contentious matters surrounding South Africa’s coal usage at a time when many countries are abandoning the fossil fuel as well as Eskom’s ever increasing electricity tariffs. The report also covers the evolving electricity landscape, shedding light on the pivotal role that independent power producers could play in shaping the nation's energy mix. Further, the report examines areas such as transmission, distribution, and electricity planning, among others.

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza tabled a R17.20-billion budget for her department in the 2023/24 financial year in May 2023, including transfers to provincial agriculture departments and relevant entities. Her Budget Vote speech underscores the imperative of food security, spatial planning, rural development, and land redistribution, highlighting the sector's role in addressing historical injustices and reinstating land rights. Didiza asserts that the enduring impacts of Apartheid and colonialism have resulted in inequalities in the distribution of resources, infrastructure, and avenues for advancement within the agricultural sector. In this context, Creamer Media’s ‘Agriculture 2023’ report considers key sectoral components including an overview of the market, which delves into production, exports, income, expenditure, costs and prices. The business environment section addresses logistics, loadshedding, and institutions such as the Land Bank. Labour and transformation are also crucial considerations. The report also outlines measures such as antidumping duties, ongoing land reform efforts, and the introduction of a sugar tax in the policy development section. Precision technology also emerges as a critical theme, with a focus on airborne agriculture, climate change and regenerative agriculture.