FX.co ★ South Africa Building Permits Rise Sharply in January

In January 2025, the approved value of building plans in South Africa experienced a significant increase, rising by 31.8% compared to the same month the previous year, reaching ZAR 6,171.1 million. This followed a revised growth of 13.8% in December. Approvals for non-residential structures saw a remarkable surge of 79.7%, while permits for additions and modifications climbed by 35.5%. The residential sector also experienced growth, with a rise of 18.2% in building permits, boosted by a substantial 47.6% increase for flats and townhouses, alongside a 7.4% uptick for dwelling houses. This upward trend in building plan approvals was particularly pronounced in major municipalities, with notable increases in the Western Cape (78.8%), KwaZulu-Natal (90.4%), and Mpumalanga (189.3%).