Step 03 · Grow & Scale
You are established.
Now expand your footprint.
InvestSA's aftercare and retention programme supports established investors to grow their South African operations - accessing incentives, unlocking regional markets, and connecting to a continental trade network built for scale.
What InvestSA Does For Established Investors
Three ways we help you grow
Retain your investment
A dedicated aftercare service supports your ongoing operations - resolving regulatory issues, facilitating reinvestment, and connecting you to government and provincial partners to sustain and protect your South African business.
Access investment incentives
the dtic administers a range of financial incentives for established investors - from the available support schemes to the Special Economic Zone Programme and services sector support. the dtic will advise on the process.
Expand into regional markets
South Africa's existing trade agreements - including SADC, SACU, the EU-SADC EPA and the AfCFTA - provide established investors with a preferential platform to access markets across Africa, Europe and beyond.
Regional & Global Market Access
Trade agreements that work for established investors
South Africa's network of trade agreements gives established investors preferential access to markets across Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom, and beyond - making it a competitive export platform for goods manufactured or processed in South Africa.
AfCFTA
African Continental Free Trade Area - 54 AU member countries, preferential trade commenced January 2024
SADC FTA
Duty-free trade among 12 of 15 SADC member states since 2012
SACU
Duty-free customs union with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and eSwatini
EU-SADC EPA
Improved market access to the EU, including more flexible rules of origin for South African exporters
SACU-UK EPA
Preferential access to the United Kingdom market for SACU member exports
SACU-EFTA & MERCOSUR
Preferential trade with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and MERCOSUR markets
The African Continental Free Trade Area represents South Africa's most significant long-term market access opportunity. Implementation is progressive - here is the current status.
AfCFTA - Current Implementation Status
Preferential trade commenced 31 January 2024. South Africa now trades preferentially with the first group of implementing AfCFTA countries, including Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda, Tunisia and Uganda.
SADC countries continue under the SADC Trade Protocol — which already provides duty-free or reduced-duty access to 12 southern African markets.
Coverage is expanding. The AfCFTA framework targets liberalisation of 97% of tariff lines across all 54 AU member markets by 2035, on a progressive schedule.
Minimum 35% local value-add qualifies goods for AfCFTA preferential origin - an incentive to deepen manufacturing and processing in South Africa.
Sources: the dtic AfCFTA page · SARS Rules of Origin
Investment Incentives
Five dtic incentive schemes for established investors
The dtic administers a range of incentive programmes that support investment, manufacturing competitiveness, export growth and industrial innovation. The five schemes below are most relevant to established investors looking to expand. A full guide to all schemes is available from the dtic.
Automotive Investment Scheme
AIS - incl. P-AIS and MHCV-AIS
A non-taxable cash grant of 20% of qualifying investment in productive assets for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and 25% for component manufacturers and tooling companies. Designed to grow and develop the automotive sector through investment in new or replacement models and components.
Source: the dtic Incentive Schemes Guide 2025/26
Black Industrialists Scheme
BIS
Financial assistance to support black industrialists to establish, expand and sustain manufacturing enterprises. Supports productive asset investment and enterprise competitiveness across qualifying manufacturing activities.
Source: the dtic Incentive Schemes Guide 2025/26
Special Economic Zone Programme
SEZ
Tax benefits and incentives for businesses locating in geographically designated Special Economic Zones - areas supported through arrangements designed to stimulate industrial development, export manufacturing and foreign direct investment.
Source: the dtic Incentive Schemes Guide 2025/26
Export Marketing & Investment Assistance
EMIA
Financial support for South African companies to access international markets - covering participation in trade missions, international exhibitions and investment attraction activities. Supports industrial competitiveness and export market development.
Source: the dtic Incentive Schemes Guide 2025/26
Global Business Services
GBS
Stimulates increased investment and growth in the services sector including business process outsourcing (BPO), contact centres, and shared services operations. South Africa is recognised as a leading global BPO destination.
Source: the dtic Incentive Schemes Guide 2025/26
Support Programme for Industrial Innovation
SPII
Financial assistance for the development of innovative products and processes - up to R5 million grant under the Matching Scheme. Focuses on the pre-production development phase, supporting technology development and industrial competitiveness.
Source: the dtic Incentive Schemes Guide 2025/26
Investment Momentum
Record pledges. Established investors leading the way.
The 6th South Africa Investment Conference, held on 31 March 2026, secured the highest-ever cumulative investment pledges since the conference was launched in 2018. Established investors - both domestic and international - led the commitments, demonstrating sustained confidence in South Africa's structural reform trajectory.
Selected confirmed investments - SAIC 2026
Toyota South Africa
R10.4bn
KwaZulu-Natal · Preparing the automotive sector for the energy transition, including new energy vehicle production
AutomotiveSasol
R60bn
Mpumalanga & Free State · Plant upgrades, renewable energy transition and refinery modernisation at Natref
Energy & ChemicalsMTN
R21.8bn
National · Telecommunications infrastructure investment across South Africa
TelecomsV&A Waterfront
R24bn
Western Cape · Property and infrastructure development at South Africa's most-visited destination
Property & InfrastructureMulilo
R14.8bn
Multiple provinces · Renewable energy projects committed across South Africa
Renewable EnergyTeleperformance
R145m
Eastern & Western Cape · Global business services investment creating 2,600 employment opportunities
Global Business ServicesSector breakdown — SAIC 2026 green economy commitments
19
Green economy, energy & resources projects
R55.6bn
Value of green economy commitments
22
Source markets represented
R3trn
Target for new investment 2026–2030
All figures sourced from: The Presidency closing remarks (31 March 2026) · SAnews · Investment Conference Website · The Presidency opening address (31 March 2026)
InvestSA Aftercare Programme
We stay with you after you invest
InvestSA's aftercare and retention programme is designed for established investors - companies that have already committed capital to South Africa and are now looking to protect, deepen or expand that investment. Our aftercare service is free of charge and connects you directly to government, national and provincial partners.
Dedicated aftercare service
InvestSA is your single point of contact for ongoing operational support, issue escalation and reinvestment facilitation.
Regulatory issue resolution
Ongoing operational bottlenecks are logged and resolved through the dtic Fusion Centre - the same 60–90 day structured process available to new investors.
Incentive advisory
Your aftercare service advises on applicable dtic incentive schemes, facilitates introductions to the relevant programme administrators, and supports the application process.
Provincial coordination
InvestSA coordinates with provincial investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and One Stop Shops across various provinces to support expansion into new regions.
InvestSA · Aftercare & Retention
Speak to our team about your next phase of growth.
Whether you are reinvesting, expanding to a new province, accessing incentives or exploring export markets - InvestSA's aftercare team is ready to support your next move. Free of charge, and with a single point of contact.
Evaluate
Establish
Scale