World Bank grants South Africa a $1.5B loan for infrastructure upgrade and green energy transition
The cooling towers at Eskom’s coal-powered Lethabo power station are seen near Sasolburg, South Africa, on Nov. 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File)
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The World Bank granted South Africa a $1.5 billion loan to upgrade transportation infrastructure and help it transition toward a low-carbon economy, the country’s National Treasury said Monday.
Deteriorating rail systems, jammed ports and frequent blackouts have hindered vital industries like mining and auto manufacturing in South Africa, contributing to slow economic growth over the last decade in Africa’s most developed economy.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his coalition government have pledged to tackle corruption and decades of poor management as well as pursue reforms to get the country out of its economic rut and ease its extremely high unemployment rate.
While it did not give specifics, the South African government said it expects the World Bank loan will enable inclusive economic growth and job creation by assisting in the removal of important infrastructure bottlenecks, especially in the energy and freight transportation sectors.
“This agreement reinforces the strong and constructive collaboration between the World Bank and the government of South Africa,” said the National Treasury. “This partnership marks a significant step toward addressing South Africa’s pressing economic challenges of low growth and high unemployment.”
Additionally, because the financing has better conditions than conventional borrowing, such as a three-year grace period, it should reduce escalating debt-service expenses, it added.
South Africa’s 2025-26 budget has allocated over R1 trillion over the next three years toward critical transportation, energy, water and sanitation infrastructure while improving access to basic services.
However, real gross domestic product was revised downward to 1.4% in 2025 from 1.9% previously projected by the Finance Ministry projected in March because of the worsening global outlook and the persistence of logistics constraints and higher borrowing costs.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said government debt is projected to stabilize at 77.4% of GDP in 2025/26.
Earlier this year, the dismantling of USAID by the Trump administration cut around $436 million in annual funding to South Africa for HIV treatment and prevention, putting the program and thousands of health care jobs on the line.
Godongwana said the country doesn’t have the funds to cover the more than $430 million shortfall caused by the Trump administration’s cuts in foreign aid, which have threatened the vast network of support for one of the world’s largest HIV-positive populations.
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