WBHO: Strength and Safety Keep WBHO Leading SA Projects

WBHO stands as one of South Africa’s most accomplished and respected construction groups, a business that has grown alongside the country’s own development ambitions while increasingly projecting its expertise across southern Africa and into international markets. Established more than five decades ago, the company has evolved from a regional contractor into a diversified engineering and construction powerhouse, delivering large-scale civil engineering, building, roads, earthworks, mining infrastructure, water, energy, and renewable projects. While its footprint now extends across Africa and into the UK, South Africa remains its operational heartland, providing both the foundation of its success and the platform for its future growth.

In a sector widely viewed as the backbone of the African economy, construction continues to play a pivotal role in job creation, infrastructure delivery, and community development. Recent data from the International Labour Organisation and regional economic analysts shows a historic surge in employment within South Africa’s construction sector, driven by renewed public sector investment and private capital flows into energy, logistics, and urban infrastructure. Against this backdrop, WBHO’s performance reflects not only its own operational strength but also the wider revival of construction as a catalyst for economic recovery.

As CEO Wolfgang Neff explains: “This year, although the growth rate has steadied, activity levels remain high. Large-scale infrastructure projects supported activity within our South African divisions which all performed well. This was complemented by steady contributions from the rest of Africa and the UK. Our segment operating margin improved to 5.5% and is at the high end of the Group’s targeted range (3% – 5.5%). For me, this achievement really highlights the character of our people and the huge contribution they make to WBHO across Africa and the UK.”

Such consistency is no accident. WBHO has spent decades refining its engineering capabilities, safety systems, and project management disciplines, allowing it to deliver technically complex schemes with reliability and cost certainty. This approach has enabled the business to navigate multiple economic cycles while maintaining its leadership position in a fiercely competitive market.

That standing was reaffirmed once again when WBHO received the PMR Africa Diamond Award, marking its 26th consecutive year as South Africa’s premier construction company. “Once again, we were honoured with the PMR Africa Diamond Award in South Africa, reaffirming our position as the premier construction company in the country – an accolade we have held for 26 consecutive years,” says Neff. In a sector characterised by tight margins and elevated project risk, such sustained recognition underlines the depth of client trust and organisational resilience.

SOUTH AFRICAN FOCUS

Within South Africa, WBHO’s project portfolio spans nearly every major infrastructure category, closely aligned with national development priorities. Public sector investment remains critical to sustaining construction activity, and WBHO continues to deliver projects for major state entities. “We are fortunate that the forward-looking pipeline contains ample opportunity. Public sector awards from SANRAL, Eskom, Umgeni Water and the Western Cape provincial government assisted in supporting activity levels, although we continue to monitor shifts in the government’s budgetary decisions. We continue working closely with our clients to deliver projects that create value and contribute to the infrastructure South Africa needs for sustainable growth,” Neff explains.

Roads and transport infrastructure form one of WBHO’s core pillars. South Africa’s ageing road network and growing freight volumes have made major upgrades essential, and the company’s Roads and Earthworks division delivered standout performance, recording both revenue growth and improved margins. The division also increased its order book by 26%, reflecting strong demand for its expertise.

Flagship projects such as the N3 Key Ridge upgrade and the N2 Mtentu Road development highlight WBHO’s ability to deliver technically demanding, multi-billion-rand schemes involving complex terrain, extensive bridge construction, and rigorous environmental controls. Additional packages secured along the N2 corridor in Mpumalanga have further strengthened the company’s medium-term outlook, reinforcing roads as a central growth driver.

Beyond transport, water and sanitation infrastructure has emerged as a strategic priority. Population growth, climate variability, and ageing municipal systems have heightened the need for investment, and WBHO has delivered major treatment works, pipelines, and bulk water transfer projects across multiple provinces. Energy infrastructure has also gained prominence as South Africa accelerates efforts to stabilise electricity supply and expand generation capacity.

RENEWABLE LEADERSHIP

Perhaps the most significant shift in WBHO’s portfolio has been its rapid expansion into renewable energy. Through its Projects division, the company has established itself as a leading engineering, procurement, and construction contractor in both solar and wind power. During FY2025, WBHO delivered three large-scale EPC solar projects and three wind farms, including the landmark R4.6 billion Khauta South and West solar project.

With a capacity of 506MW, Khauta represents the largest solar installation WBHO has undertaken and marks its first move into operations and management services. “The Projects division, which has spearheaded our entry into the renewable energy sector, delivered consistent activity this year. This sector remains vibrant and the sizes of the projects entering the market continues to grow. We had three large-scale EPC solar projects and three wind farms under construction during FY2025, including the landmark R4,6 billion Khauta South and West solar project. WBHO will also undertake the operations and management (O&M) of this project for two years after completion. At 506MW, it will be the largest solar project that WBHO has tackled and our first entry into the O&M space,” Neff says.

This expansion into renewables reflects broader changes within the company’s civil engineering activities. Mining infrastructure, once dominant, accounted for just 17% of work in FY2025, while oil and gas, water, and energy projects have become more prevalent. This diversification enhances earnings stability and positions WBHO at the forefront of South Africa’s energy transition.

AFRICA AND BEYOND

Although South Africa remains central to WBHO’s strategy, its broader African footprint provides additional resilience and opportunity. The company follows a calculated market-entry approach, working only with clients it believes it can create lasting partnerships based on mutual success. “In Africa, we adopt a conservative risk-approach to building markets, only working for clients we believe will treat us fairly. We are nearing completion of one data centre in Ghana for Digital Reality, an international data centre business,” Neff notes.

Such projects demonstrate WBHO’s ability to deliver highly technical infrastructure under demanding conditions, while maintaining strict quality and safety standards. The company’s growing presence in logistics, data centres, and urban developments across the continent further reinforces its position as a trusted delivery partner.

Meanwhile, WBHO’s UK operations provide exposure to advanced construction markets and support knowledge transfer across geographies. Despite economic headwinds in two of the company’s key markets, the group recorded strong order intake in the latter half of the year. “Structural economic and political issues facing both South Africa and the UK are not particularly supportive of growth, nonetheless the order intake over the second half of the financial year saw substantial growth in the order book to R37.6 billion,” says Neff.

“The high level of work-on-hand together with a solid pipeline of work in the renewable energy, roads, and water infrastructure sectors provides a good foundation over the short to medium term and an ideal environment for training and growing our younger employees. It also allows us to be discerning in our bid selection, ensuring we pursue opportunities for reputable clients at the right margin enabling us to create sustainable value.”

PEOPLE AND PROGRESS

Human capital remains fundamental to WBHO’s success. Construction is an intensely people-driven industry, and the company continues to invest heavily in training, skills development, and leadership succession. Its apprenticeship schemes, graduate programmes, and on-site training initiatives contribute directly to South Africa’s broader employment and skills development goals.

Community engagement is similarly central to operations. Large infrastructure projects often intersect with local communities, and WBHO prioritises stakeholder engagement, local procurement, and enterprise development. Through targeted community investment programmes, the company supports education, health, and social infrastructure, ensuring project benefits extend beyond physical assets.

FUTURE FOUNDATIONS

As South Africa confronts the twin challenges of economic recovery and long-term development, construction will remain a cornerstone of progress. Few companies embody this role more fully than WBHO. From its origins in South African civil engineering to its emergence as a continental and international player, the company has demonstrated that scale, quality, and integrity can coexist in a highly competitive sector.

By delivering landmark infrastructure, advancing renewable energy, fostering skills development, and investing in communities, WBHO continues to shape the country’s economic and physical landscape. With a strong order book, disciplined growth strategy, and unwavering focus on excellence, the company stands exceptionally well placed to drive South Africa’s next phase of infrastructure-led growth, reaffirming its position as a true industry leader.