Discover the Top 10 Construction Companies in South Africa

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the changing social and economic conditions across the world, and the departure of some big international contractors, the construction sector in South Africa has remained one of the country’s main economic drivers. That is mainly due to the drive of companies who continue to invest and adopt new digital construction technologies and innovations to boost growth and productivity.

To truly understand the current situation of the building industry in South Africa, it is necessary to look at who the main players are, and what they are currently doing to drive success. For that reason, we’ve put together this informative blog post that outlines the top 10 construction companies in ZA as well as some valuable stats that provide an overview of the current state of the market.

The Current State of the Construction Industry in ZA

As the most developed construction market in the Sub-Saharan region, South Africa currently provides employment for over 50,000 individuals in the industry. In recent years, traditionally strong mining and infrastructure sectors have combined with engineering services and sustainable energy to form a more diverse and well-rounded industry.

This diversity of services is expected to result in annual construction industry growth of 3.7% between 2025 and 2028. The South African government is doing its part to encourage this upward trend, unveiling a USD 12.4 billion (ZAR 230 billion) infrastructure pipeline in 2024. A strong national commitment to renewable energy conversion is echoed by many of the leading construction companies in South Africa.

The slight downturn in 2024 has been attributed to global headwinds that included inflation, supply chain issues, and decreased investment in residential properties. As the industry rebounds, the top construction companies in South Africa are retooling their services to compete and thrive in a dynamic environment.

Top Construction Companies in South Africa

The departure of several large international contractors in recent years has given the South African construction industry a decidedly local flavor in 2024. Most of South Africa’s construction companies currently operate out of Gauteng, the country’s smallest province. Along with their established regional connections and diverse service offerings, many of the top construction companies in South Africa also share a deep commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

Picking the best companies to showcase is not an easy task. For this blog, we took some of the companies from the list from ZoomInfo and other up-to-date resources based on revenue. The revenue data was collected from official company websites and other external sources, as some companies don’t disclose the information publicly.

Please note that the data provided is based on the latest available information (end of 2024) and may have changed since publication.

Aveng

The first company on our list is Aveng, an international engineering contractor offering infrastructure, building, and mining services. The company was established in 1880, focusing on small construction projects in South Africa; more than 100 years later, it has expanded into the infrastructure development and mining sectors, operating in Africa, Australasia, Southeast Asia, and South America.

Aveng is composed of three businesses: McConnell Dowell, focusing on infrastructure projects; Built Environs, focusing on delivering creative building projects in the commercial space; and Moolmans, which has been operating across Africa for over 60 years.

Some of the most interesting projects from Aveng in South Africa include the Gouda Wind Facility in Western Cape, one of the largest wind farms in the country, the First National Bank (FNB) Stadium, an association football and rugby stadium in Nasrec, and  The Leonardo, a 55-floor multi-use building, the tallest in all South Africa.

WBHO Construction

With an annual revenue of USD 1.5 billion (ZAR 27 billion), Wilson Bayly Holmes (WBHO) is consistently ranked among the largest and most successful construction companies in South Africa. Established in 1970, the company maintains eight offices on the African continent and two in the UK, with over 9,000 employees worldwide.

Primary focus areas for WBHO include building construction, civil engineering, and earthworks. This combination of skills has been evident in projects such as the 452-unit Steyn City Centre, the Kusile Power Station, and the 500,000 m² Mall of Africa, which is currently the largest retail development in all of Africa. The company ranks safety, quality, and teamwork among its most important values.

WBHO has been an active member of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) for over a decade and an active participant in the international Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) since 2007, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to sustainable construction.

Raubex

Raubex is one of South Africa’s leading infrastructure development and construction material supply organizations. The company currently has over 7,000 employees and maintains offices throughout South Africa and Western Australia. Raubex has been listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange since 2007.

The first successful Raubex project, a bridge over the Vet River, was completed shortly after the company was founded in 1974. The company has since expanded from bridge construction and maintenance to take on challenging roadway, building, and infrastructure projects, including the massive Prieska Solar Farm near Copperton and the Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe.

Numerous Raubex-supported projects focus on social responsibility, including the Little Miracles Therapy Centre and Day Care (LMDC) for children with special needs and the Spoudazo Township Vegetable Tunnel to ensure food security for vulnerable households.

Murray & Roberts

Murray & Roberts is a group of leading engineering, mining, and construction contracting companies that deliver outstanding project engineering, sustainability, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance solutions. The group, which is headquartered in Bedfordview, was established in 1902 and went public and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in 1951, positioning itself as one of the biggest players in the industry to this day. Its growth and success have led the group to expand beyond the African region, operating in Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia with over 10,000 employees across all.

In 2016, the company decided to sell its general construction division as a strategic shift to focus on the

natural resources markets, specifically targeting sectors such as oil and gas, metals and minerals, and power and water. However, the company still continues to operate in specialized construction projects related to mining, oil and gas infrastructures.

Amongst the many successful projects from Murray & Roberts is the development of some of the infrastructure for the South Africa Soccer World Cup in 2010, Medupi and Kusile power stations, and the Sasol Turbo Project PP2, among many others, earning the group a well-deserved reputation of excellence.

Haw & Inglis

Our review of successful construction companies in South Africa continues with Haw & Inglis, another privately owned engineering, construction and infrastructure development company that embodies the regional passion for innovation, integrity, and inclusion. The company’s permanent employees are also company shareholders.

Haw & Inglis counts civil engineering, earthworks, and waterworks among their core competencies. A separate rock crushing division includes five multi-stage crushing plants that produce millions of tons of aggregates for roads spanning South Africa. The five-star Hilton Hotel Cape Town, the Victoria Hospital, and the Saldana Boat Yard are among the recent projects showcasing H&I expertise.

Social responsibility was part of the original H&I company culture in 1984, and this continues today with ongoing programs for disadvantaged children and advanced educational support for high school-age students.

Life Green Group

Life Green Group holds a unique position on our list of top construction companies in South Africa as the only company specializing in sustainable landscaping services. The company originated in founder Oscar Lockwood’s garage in 1984 and has since expanded into numerous divisions providing indoor and outdoor landscaping, maintenance, and waste management solutions.

The company now exceeds USD 640 million (ZAR 1.16 billion) in annual revenue while employing over 2,000 workers. Thousands of schools, office parks, waste management plants, and reclaimed mines throughout South Africa have benefitted from the creative and environmentally sustainable solutions developed by the Life Green Group team.

Power Group

Power Group is one of the largest privately owned civil engineering, property development, and building construction companies in South Africa. As a pioneer in sustainable construction and infrastructure, Power Group has consistently ranked among the top building companies in the country since it began in 1983.

Power Group generates over USD 400 million (ZAR 7.2 billion) in annual revenue, with a full-time staff of approximately 900 people. Recent projects demonstrating the scope and quality of Power Group capabilities include the 800-unit Forest Village residential development in Cape Town, the Malmesbury Indoor Soccer Arena, and the Gibson Bay Wind Farm in Oyster Bay.

Stefanutti Stocks (Pty) Ltd

Like many other top construction companies in South Africa, Stefanutti Stocks is a multidisciplinary organization with expertise in building, geotechnical, mining, earthworks, and renewables. Founded in 1971, the company maintains its headquarters in Kempton Park, South Africa, with additional offices in Zambia, Botswana, and Mozambique.

With over 5,400 dedicated employees, Stefanutti Stocks has successfully completed a range of high-profile projects, including the VBC Energy Towers in Maputo (2021), the Point Promenade Piling Project (2018), and the Sentech Tower Concrete Rehabilitation project in Johannesburg (2021). The company also offers turnkey infrastructure solutions, including a multi-stage water clarification system capable of processing six cubic liters per second.   

Concor

Next on our list of top construction companies in South Africa is Concor (formerly Murray & Roberts), a well-established company offering innovative solutions in the construction, project development, and mining sectors. An overarching Shared Services structure supports each of the three specialized divisions.

The company was founded on the Western Cape in 1902 and has since grown to employ over 3,000 people, most of whom are based directly on project sites. Recent undertakings, including the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link in Gauteng, South Africa, the Khuseleka Mine Project, and the Conradie Park residential development in Cape Town, demonstrate the broad scope and quality of their services.

Concor has also emerged as a leader in the renewable energy sector, with expertise in civil and electrical balance of plant (BOP) projects that provide the supporting infrastructure for large-scale solar and wind farms.

Esor Construction

 Last but not least on our list of the top construction companies in ZA is Esor Construction. Founded 47 years ago, the company offers specialist multidisciplinary construction and development services, including geotechnical, buildings, civils, roads, pipe jacking, and more. Thus, it is a leading contractor in the region.

Esor proudly holds the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) level 2 status, which shows its commitment to facilitating the broader participation of black people in the economy. This includes hiring black employees or contracting with black-owned suppliers.

Among Esor’s most highlighted projects, we can find the rehabilitation of the Pelaneng Adit in 2021, the Beitbridge Bulk Water Supply, the Beitbridge Bulk Water Supply, and many others that can be found on the company’s website.

Powerful Construction Software for Companies in South Africa

The companies listed above have a long history of success in the construction industry in ZA. This is due to their hard work, determination, and expertise, but also because of the use of innovative technology. As our industry becomes increasingly complex, companies that want to thrive and beat the competition must integrate software solutions to streamline their processes and boost productivity and success.

At RIB Software, we have designed a specialized toolkit composed of innovative solutions that assist companies in South Africa and the rest of the world in streamlining project management, takeoff and estimating, planning, procurement, financial management, handover, and much more. Each of our solutions has been designed to tackle the challenges of modern-day construction, offering unmatched levels of efficiency, productivity, and quality, all with collaboration and communication at the forefront.

RIB Candy, our planning, estimating, and project control software, has decades of experience revolutionizing the South African construction industry, offering powerful features to successfully execute projects from bidding all the way to the final close out. If you are ready to experience the leading construction software in ZA for yourself, get your free demo for RIB Candy today!