IRR delivers unflinching account of state of SA’s infrastructure in new report

An unflinching account of the state of South Africa's core infrastructure is given in the latest paper in the Blueprint for Growth series published by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR).

The paper is to be launched with an online discussion next week between its author, IRR Economic Policy Analyst and Research Coordinator Anlu Keeve, and Terence Corrigan, the IRR’s Project and Publications Manager.

South Africa's water, electricity, rail, road, and port systems are in crisis. Nearly 30% of water supply systems are in critical condition, with rural areas worst affected, and urban centres like Johannesburg facing frequent cuts. Eskom's Energy Availability Factor has collapsed from 91% in 1999 to the mid-60s today, while electricity tariffs have risen six times faster than inflation since 2007. The ports of Durban, Cape Town, and Gqeberha rank among the worst-performing in the world, and the shift of freight from rail to road has damaged roads, raised costs, and fuelled a 61% rise in truck hijackings.

The briefing will unpack the extent of this decline across water, electricity, and transport, tracing it to policy failure, mismanagement, corruption, and underfunding.  

Beyond diagnosing the problem, the paper also offers a clear picture of what it will take to reverse the decline.

Says Keeve: "Fixing South Africa's water, electricity, rail, road, and port infrastructure must not be treated merely as a technical task that requires more money and expertise. It will require changing the rules that govern how decisions are made, who makes them, and on what grounds. Without changing the rules, no amount of capital or technical support will be sufficient."

Event details:

Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Time: 10h00

Speakers: Anlu Keeve, Economic policy analyst and research coordinator (Author) and Terence Corrigan, PUBS Manager

Register: https://streamyard.com/watch/ahVn2mciJsPd

Media contact: Anlu Keeve IRR Economic Policy Analyst and Research Coordinator Tel: 071 929 9516 Email: anlu@irr.org.za

Media enquiries: Michael Morris IRR Head of Media Tel: 066 302 1968 Email: michael@irr.org.za