CONSTRUCTION
Risk & reform
At Collective Wisdom 2026, industry leaders at the Constructor’ s Forum, hosted by MDA Attorneys, highlighted systemic weaknesses such as payment delays and shifting contractual burdens.
According to the panel, payment cycles often stretch beyond the statutory 30-day requirement, resulting in contractors having to finance projects on razor-thin margins. Jabu Serithi of GVK Siya-Zama noted that delayed payments have become normalised, especially in the public sector, stalling projects such as the Bus Rapid Transit.
It was also highlighted that clients are increasingly offloading contractual risk onto contractors, leaving them to shoulder responsibilities that traditionally sat with project owners. The rise of Engineering, Procurement and Construction( EPC) contracts has intensified this trend, demanding sophisticated legal expertise from contractors. renewable energy projects, Rukesh Raghubir of Murray & Dickson Construction suggested focusing on the“ Agile 50”.
Euan Massey of MDA Attorneys elaborates on this:“ The Agile 50 are local firms representing – at least in part – the future big players in the South Africa economy. As the name suggests, these firms are
Early contractor involvement... a proven mechanism globally, offering transparency, collaboration, and shared accountability.
Despite challenges, the panellists were cautiously optimistic about the future due to an increase in commercial property demand, a pipeline of infrastructure and mining work, and an uptick in private sector investment.
Panellists agreed that partnerships should be prioritised. Early contractor involvement was cited as a proven mechanism globally, offering transparency, collaboration, and shared accountability.
To further address the growing presence of international contractors in South African infrastructure, mining, and
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