History will be made at this year’s South African Builders & Construction Awards (SABCA) as the organization prepares to induct its first-ever woman into its Hall of Fame, alongside two of South Africa’s most recognized figures in business, property, and nation-building.
The 19th Annual SABCA Gala Awards—taking place on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at the Premier Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks, Durban—will gather more than 200 leading executives and stakeholders from the construction, property, engineering, architecture, infrastructure, finance, and public sectors under the official theme: “Building Legacies, Honouring Icons.”
A Glass-Ceiling Moment for Women in the Built Environment
In a landmark milestone for the organization’s 19-year history, Mrs Thoko Tshabalala-Shandu—winner of South Africa’s Best Woman of Excellence Award 2025—will become the first woman inducted into the SABCA Hall of Fame.
Tshabalala-Shandu has established herself as a formidable leader in construction, project management, and infrastructure delivery, carving out a path for female professionals across male-dominated built environment sectors.
“For 19 years, SABCA has honoured those who build South Africa. This year, we are not just honouring builders; we are honouring nation-builders and legacy-makers,” says Lloyd Ngavu, President of SABCA. “Dr Phosa represents principled leadership and resilience. Dr Ngebulana represents audacious vision and black excellence in property. And Mrs Thoko Tshabalala-Shandu represents the future—and it is a future led by women. Making her the first woman ever in our Wall of Fame is our proudest moment as SABCA.”
Lifetime Achievement Honors for Two Nation-Builders
Alongside the historic induction, SABCA will confer its highest accolade—the Lifetime Achievement Excellence Award—on two stalwarts of South Africa’s economic and physical transformation, inducting both into the Hall of Fame:
- Dr Matthews Phosa: Former Premier of Mpumalanga, struggle veteran, attorney, and prominent businessman, recognized for his contributions to ethical leadership, transformation, and corporate governance.
- Dr Sisa Ngebulana: Founder and Executive Chairman of Billion Group, one of Africa’s premier property development enterprises. Dr Ngebulana is the visionary behind major commercial milestones, including the landmark Hemingway Mall in East London, cementing a legacy of Black excellence in property development.
Induction into the SABCA Hall of Fame remains reserved for individuals whose structural, economic, and community contributions have fundamentally altered South Africa’s built environment.
Event Summary & Venue Details
- Event: 19th Annual South African Builders & Construction Awards (SABCA) Gala
- Date: Saturday, 7 November 2026
- Venue: Premier Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban
- Theme: Building Legacies, Honouring Icons
- Delegation: 200+ developers, contractors, engineers, financiers, and government leaders