President Ramaphosa Calls for Innovative Building Technologies to Transform Housing Delivery

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a keynote address at the Innovative Building Technologies (IBT) Summit held at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, where government and industry leaders outlined a shared commitment to transforming South Africa�s approach to housing delivery. The two-day summit, convened under the theme �Mainstreaming Innovative Building Technologies for Sustainable Human Settlements�, brought together representatives from government, the building and construction sector, academia, investors and civil society to explore new solutions capable of accelerating the delivery of sustainable, resilient and affordable homes.

In his address, the President reaffirmed that housing is not merely about shelter, but about dignity, belonging and opportunity � a fundamental human right enshrined in the Constitution. He acknowledged the democratic government�s achievement in providing over five million housing opportunities since 1994, but noted that more than 2.5 million families remain on waiting lists due to rising construction costs, land scarcity and delays in delivery.

The urgent need for housing is further compounded by rapid urbanisation, population growth and the growing impacts of climate change. These pressures require scalable and innovative building approaches that move beyond traditional construction methods and enable faster, more resilient delivery at lower cost.

Housing is not merely about shelter, but about dignity, belonging and opportunity � a fundamental human right that empowers communities and strengthens the nation�s future.

Innovative Building Technologies as the Solution

Innovative Building Technologies (IBTs) were presented as a strategic response to these challenges. These include lightweight structures, energy-efficient designs, prefabricated components and environmentally sustainable construction methods that can significantly reduce build times while improving affordability and durability. Such innovations enable government and industry to deliver housing faster and more efficiently without compromising quality.

Through a Social Compact on Innovative Building Technologies established at the summit, government, industry, financiers and communities pledged to align policy, regulatory frameworks, finance and skills development to accelerate mainstream adoption. The summit highlighted how IBTs can address the housing backlog while stimulating local manufacturing, creating jobs and supporting climate-resilient settlement planning.

Summit Details