DEPUTY MINISTER ZIKALALA TACKLES KEY INDUSTRY CHALLENGES AT 2025 CONSTRUCTION LAW CONFERENCE

Article and Pictures by Tseke Masemola

10 April 2025

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s Deputy Minister, Sihle Zikalala, delivered an impactful keynote address at the 2025 Construction Law Conference, hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on the 9th of April. The two-day event, running from 08–09 April, had brought together a number of legal professionals, infrastructure experts, policy leaders, and public sector stakeholders to reflect on South Africa’s evolving construction law landscape, and address critical challenges confronting the built environment.

In his address, Deputy Minister Zikalala shed light on the important issues plaguing the construction sector, including contractual disputes, project delays, cost overruns, and procurement inefficiencies. These challenges, he warned, continue to weather investor confidence and undermine the pace and quality of service delivery in both public and private sector infrastructure projects. The DM stressed the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to drive effective infrastructure development, create shared value, and accelerate economic growth through the regulatory framework.

A central theme across the conference was a focus on the function of construction law, which governs construction projects, responsibilities, risks, and liabilities throughout a project’s completion. Rooted in the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Act of 2000, it serves as the guidebook for managing compliance, navigating disputes, and enabling fair contractual relationships across the built environment.

The CEO’s of two of DPWI entities played a strong role in shaping the conference conversation. Dr. Msizi Myeza, the CEO of the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), spoke on the urgent need to strengthen competence requirements and professional development within the sector. He emphasised legal capacity-building for young construction professionals and the need for clear project readiness criteria. Bongani Dladla, CEO of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), spoke heavily on the call for transformation of procurement systems.

The conference also featured key international legal figures such as Dr. Wolfgang Breyer and Prof. Stefan Leupertz, who equally allowed for a refined perspective on the power of cooperation, and its influence on the country’s economy, project efficiency and meeting legal requirements.