SDG 17, South Africa-style: We need practical collaborations that mobilise capital, technology

THE African Development Bank's (AfDB) recent approval of an R8.4 billion loan to bolster South Africa’s energy security, reform logistics, and support climate-resilient infrastructure, follows closely on the heels of the R94 billion Global Gateway agreement struck with the European Union (EU) in March.

- Manie de Waal, CEO of Energy Partners

These commitments are not merely big numbers. They're signals of confidence in South Africa's potential to lead in two of the most strategically critical arenas of the decade: the energy transition and vaccine manufacturing.

But funding alone does not guarantee outcomes. Capital may make headlines and kickstart projects, but it doesn’t bring them to fruition. The question is: Who will turn the vision into reality?

The execution gap

South Africa has seen what happens when capability doesn’t match ambition.

The Medupi Power Station, for example, which was once positioned as the cornerstone of energy independence, but instead became symbols of systemic delivery failure.

We cannot afford a repeat. Not when climate deadlines are nonnegotiable, the national grid remains fragile, and our industrial competitiveness depends on reliable, low-carbon energy.

The lesson is clear: we need new delivery models.

This is precisely what UN SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals calls for: Practical collaborations that mobilise capital, technology, expertise and proven know-how to deliver sustainable outcomes.