The Operation Vulindlela Q2 Progress Report Briefing took place on 31 October at JSE Sandton, hosted by the National Treasury and the Presidency.
The briefing highlighted South Africa’s push to fast-track key economic reforms under Phase II of Operation Vulindlela, designed to dismantle structural barriers and drive growth, investment, and improved service delivery. The Quarter 2 Progress Report for 2025/26, released in October, highlights strong progress across the energy, logistics, water, digital, and governance sectors. In the energy sector, the country is making headway toward a competitive electricity market.
The National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) has applied for a market operator licence, with approval expected before the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Eskom has returned to profitability for the first time in eight years and added 800 megawatts of new capacity to the national grid.
Private investment in renewables continues to surge, with over 220 gigawatts of solar, wind, and battery projects in development-72 gigawatts of which are already at advanced stages. The freight logistics reform has seen the allocation of rail slots to 11 private operators on 41 routes, signalling the opening up of the rail sector.
Enhanced port operations have cut vessel anchorage times by 75%, while private sector participation in key transport corridors could unlock up to R200 billion in investment over the next five years. Significant progress has also been achieved in the water sector, where the Water Services Amendment Bill and National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency Bill were tabled to strengthen governance and expand public-private partnerships.
The Africa Water Investment Summit in Cape Town drew US$12 billion in commitments for 80 water projects, including 36 from South Africa.In other areas, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system was launched for G20 delegates, helping clear a backlog of over 300,000 visa applications.The MyMzansi digital platform and redesigned Gov.za website are improving citizens’ access to government services.
The report concludes that Operation Vulindlela is gaining momentum, with tangible results across key sectors. Government officials say the reforms are critical to driving investment, improving service delivery, and placing South Africa on a path to sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
