The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has reported a record profit of R5,3 billion for the year ended March 2025, strengthening its position to fund critical infrastructure and energy projects across South Africa and the region.
Released on September 3, the results show a 14% year-on-year profit increase, driven by higher net interest income. The DBSA’s total development finance portfolio now exceeds R91 billion.
Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo said the DBSA’s performance is vital to closing South Africa’s infrastructure deficit, noting that structural reforms are creating space for greater private-sector participation. “Through Operation Vulindlela, we’ve opened a number of network industries from energy to telecommunications and freight logistics,” he said. “However, we need about R4 trillion by 2035 to meet our infrastructure needs. There’s a serious financing gap.”
While reforms break down monopolies and improve efficiency, they also create demand for investment-ready projects, making the DBSA’s role in mobilising capital and building a bankable pipeline essential, added Masondo.
The DBSA finances renewable energy and embedded generation initiatives through programmes such as the Embedded Generation Investment Programme, which supports independent power producers in solar and wind projects. Recent DBSA-backed projects include the
- Zero Carbon Charge solar project
- US$23 million debt facility for Zambia’s Ithezi-Tezi hydro project
- US$53 million debt facility for Ghana’s 340 MW Cenpower Kpone thermal power project
