BREAKING BARRIERS: ZIKALALA CALLS OUT STALLED CONTRACTOR GROWTH IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

Article by Nolwazi Ndhlovu, Pictures by Mahlogonolo Makwela

24 April 2026

The Deputy Minister of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, has called for urgent and deliberate action to address barriers preventing emerging contractors from advancing within South Africa’s construction sector.

Delivering the keynote address at the Contractor Development Roadshow hosted by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) in East London, the Deputy Minister presented a sobering assessment of transformation in the industry.

Despite progress at entry level, many contractors remain unable to grow beyond lower cidb grades, with access to meaningful opportunities still constrained. “Participation alone is not enough. The real challenge is ensuring access to opportunities at scale and enabling contractors to grow into higher levels of the industry,” he said.

Drawing on data from the cidb Construction Monitor, he noted that while black ownership is strong in lower grades, it declines significantly at higher levels where the largest projects are delivered. Women-owned enterprises, he added, remain underrepresented in accessing public sector contract value.

These trends refer to a structural challenge within the sector — one where participation has improved, but progression remains limited.

In response, government is implementing a more coordinated approach through the National Contractor Development Framework, aimed at linking development directly to real opportunities and ensuring long-term sustainability. A key intervention is the cidb’s B.U.I.L.D Programme, which embeds contractor development within procurement processes so that infrastructure projects actively contribute to enterprise growth and skills development.

The Contractor Development Roadshow forms part of a broader national effort to engage contractors, improve access to opportunities, and strengthen the construction sector’s ability to drive inclusive economic growth. As discussions continue, the message from East London is clear: meaningful transformation will require more than participation — it will require targeted action to remove barriers and enable contractors to grow and compete at higher levels.