Steel Awards 2025 showcase an industry that refuses to slow down
NEARLY 600 leaders from across South Africa’s steel construction value chain gathered at Emperors Palace on 23 October for the 2025 Steel Awards — a red-carpet event that blended black-tie formality with Moulin Rouge flair. But beneath the feathers and top hats was a deeper message: the steel industry is still standing strong, innovating, and proving its resilience in a challenging economic climate.
Hosted by the Southern African Institute for Steel Construction (SAISC), the evening celebrated far more than individual projects. It highlighted an industry adapting to supply disruptions, policy shifts and global uncertainty — and still delivering world-class engineering.
SAISC CEO Amanuel Gebremeskal reminded attendees that the impact of the Awards stretches well beyond the room. International audiences track South Africa’s steel achievements closely, he said, with global requests pouring in for South African expertise. “As the world moves further into the cloud, we remain one of the few industries grounded to support a modern society,” he noted.
The sentiment was echoed by SAISC board member and Macsteel Engineering Manager Axel Kayoka, who addressed concerns around steel supply. Despite mill closures and shifts in sourcing, he said, the industry has stabilised through new supply channels, strong networks and consistent quality assurance. His focus for 2026: continuity of supply, quality and compliance, and confidence in local capability.
Collaboration emerged as one of the night’s strongest themes. Many of the top projects — spanning architects, engineers, fabricators, cladders, merchants and contractors — showcased teamwork rather than competition. As SAISC Board Chairwoman and Betterect MD Nicolette Skjoldhammer said, the Awards aim to inspire and “showcase to the rest of the world what our industry can achieve.”
Category winners offered a snapshot of the sector’s depth and innovation, underscoring why South Africa’s steel industry remains a cornerstone of infrastructure development across the region.
