cidb Honours South Africa’s Trailblazing Women in Construction at 2026 ERWIC Awards

The Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) celebrated the nation’s most outstanding women in construction at the 2026 Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction (ERWIC) Awards, held at the luxurious Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg.

The seventh annual ceremony took place during Women’s Month against the backdrop of two historic milestones: 70 years since 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings against apartheid pass laws, and 30 years since 9 August was formally declared a day to honour them.

Government’s Commitment to Transformation

Addressing guests, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean McPherson reaffirmed his commitment to “kick down the doors of opportunity” for women to compete and win in the open market. Award entries doubled in two years to 160, reflecting growing momentum.

Minister McPherson highlighted that women now constitute 53% of beneficiaries supported by professional skills and capacity development interventions, and reaffirmed the government’s R300 million construction fund—established jointly by the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and cidb—to support women-owned companies.

“Women’s empowerment is not separate from infrastructure delivery. It is part of infrastructure delivery. A capable women-owned contractor that is paid on time is more likely to survive, employ people and grow,” said Minister McPherson during his opening address.

He further alluded that as the department, they have witnessed that women-owned enterprises have increased from 18% of active CIDB Grades 2 to 9 contractors in 2021 to 26% in the latest reporting period.

“These awards recognise the vision, determination and achievement of the women builders in our country, celebrating the incredible leaders whose expertise is transforming our industry and whose contributions are shaping the South Africa we will leave to future generations. Empowered Women Empower the Nation, and could not be more fitting. Empowerment is not merely a slogan, but a site plan brought to life, a contract signed, a team inspired and a project completed.”, said cidb Chief Executive, Bongani Dladla.

2026 ERWIC Award Winners

Some of the winners for the night, from 16 different categories were:

· Project Delivery Excellence – Grade 1: Galo Maarohanye (GVM Civils) – Renovations to Kgodisong Flea Market

· Project Delivery Excellence – Grades 2–4: Shai Tshiskule (Livhone Advisory) – Warehouse Extension and Mezzanine Office for ZF Lemförder SA

· Project Delivery Excellence – Grades 5–6: Johanna Mokoenene (Lebohile Construction) – Naledi Development: 26 Housing Units

· Project Delivery Excellence – Grades 7–9: Thoko Tshabalala-Shandu (VEA Road Maintenance & Civils) – Emergency Reconstruction of Evaton Municipal Access Road

· Rural Project of the Year: Matlakala Radebe (Qualicon Construction) – Borwa Primary Healthcare Clinic

· Interior Design and Build Project: Rene Bengu (Rene Forbay Designs) – TLS Centurion Design and Project Management

A Call to Action

Dladla called on the industry to build on the evening’s momentum: “As we mark 70 years since that march, let us recommit to a construction sector where a woman’s success is not the exception but the expectation. Let us build an industry, and a country, worthy of the women who marched so that we could stand here freely tonight.”

Deputy Minister Zikalala echoed this sentiment, calling for a recommitment to an industry where women’s success is a standard expectation.