The World Bank approved a $1.5 billion loan, approximately 24.8 billion rand, for South Africa on July 21, 2026. This is the fourth development policy financing granted to the country since 2022.
The program mainly covers the electricity, transportation, and water sectors.
According to the World Bank, reforms in energy and transportation could contribute to the creation of nearly 600,000 jobs by 2032, including around 280,000 in the next year.
The financing comes as power outages have significantly decreased over the past 18 months. Private investments in renewable energy have tripled, and rail and port freight volumes have increased by over 50% since 2023, according to the World Bank.
The program also includes measures regarding governance and investments in the water sector.
South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana stated that the financing would support reforms in the energy and transportation sectors and address governance and investment challenges in the water sector.
