The Steel Awards 2025 brought together almost 600 people from across the steel construction value chain to celebrate something bigger than individual projects. It was a celebration of an industry that has absorbed pressure, adapted to change and continued to deliver world-class work in a complex environment.
Presented by the Southern African Institute for Steel Construction (SAISC), this red-carpet evening merged black-tie stiffness with flamboyant Moulin Rouge flair, turning Emperors Palace into a mix of feathers, top hats and serious steel talk on 23 October 2025.
Guided through the evening by MC Vafa Naraghi, the event combined glamour with a clear message: despite supply disruptions, policy shifts and global uncertainty, South Africa’s steel industry is not standing still. It is innovating, collaborating and proving that a strong local steel ecosystem is both possible and active.
As Institute CEO Amanuel Gebremeskal reminded the audience, the impact of the Steel Awards reaches far beyond the room on the night.
“Our reach as the Institute in terms of media, when we promote these projects after the Steel Awards, is so far that we get requests from every corner of the world asking if South Africans can build the most exciting projects, and our answer is always in the affirmative, that we can. As the world moves further into the cloud, we remain one of the few industries that’s grounded to support a modern society.”
His message underscored the global visibility of local expertise, and the increasingly important role South African steel plays in shaping the infrastructure, industries and economies of the future.
An Industry That Refuses to Stand Still
In his address, SAISC board member and Macsteel Engineering Manager Axel Kayoka captured the mood in the room. He noted that the past year brought significant challenges, from changes in steel supply to broader economic uncertainty. Yet his central message was one of calm confidence:
“Steel supply will continue, and we will be okay, despite mill closures or rerouting of steel supply through further imports.”
Axel highlighted how networks of merchants, fabricators and engineers have already adapted. Alternative supply channels were secured, lead-time visibility was maintained and quality assurance was upheld. The result: downstream industries are not forced to outsource entire value chains abroad. Local capability is intact and active.
He closed with three key areas of focus for the road to 2026: continuity of supply, quality and compliance, and confidence in local capability. The Steel Awards offered real evidence of these commitments. Each nominated project represented a team that did not wait for ideal conditions. They simply got on with the work and excelled.
Collaboration Across the Value Chain
One of the strongest themes to emerge from the evening was the sense of inspiration that comes from seeing what peers across the industry are accomplishing together. Few of the showcased projects could have existed without close cooperation between architects, engineers, fabricators, contractors, cladding specialists, merchants and owners.
As Nicolette Skjoldhammer, Managing Director at Betterect and Chairwoman of the SAISC Board, reflected while speaking about the Lycopodium Modular Plant, winner of the Mining category:
“I think that people are inspired when they see what their peers are achieving and rather than it being a comparison between competitors, I think it truly is to motivate, inspire and showcase to the rest of the world what our industry can achieve in South Africa.”
Her dual role in both industry and the Institute captures the spirit of the Steel Awards perfectly. It is not a competition for bragging rights, but a platform for raising the standard, celebrating shared capability and reminding both local and international audiences of the remarkable work being done across the South African steel sector.
The presence of primary producers, merchants, fabricators, engineers, Eskom and other associations in the same room reinforced this point. The Steel Awards are one of the few platforms where the entire value chain can see, in a single evening, what is being built, where the bar is set, and what is possible when skills and resources are aligned.
Category Highlights: A Snapshot of Excellence
The 2025 awards once again demonstrated the breadth and strength of capability in South Africa and the wider region. Every category told its own story about innovation, problem-solving and design quality.
Architectural
Winner: Civil Aviation Authority
Commendation: Ou Meul Bakery at Windmeul Kelder
Mining
Winner: Lycopodium Modular Plant
Commendation: Platreef Shaft 2 Winder Building
Commendation: Thungela Elders 1000 Ton Truck Loading Station Bin
Factory and Warehouse
Winner: Woolworths DC Phase 2
Commendation: Signal Hill Brewery
Industrial
Winner: Sasol Wood CF 2 Project
Commendation: Nova Feeds
Commendation: Bayer Blue Castle Zambia
Metal Cladding
Winner: Woolworths DC Phase 2
Commendation: Botswana International University of Science
Commendation: Civil Aviation Authority
Light Steel Frame (LSF)
Winner: New Orleans Primary School
Commendation: Huis Uys
Commendation: Library, North-West University
Tubular
Winner: 96 Rissik Street
Commendation: Helderfontein Pedestrian Bridge
Innovation & Sustainability
Winner: 96 Rissik Street
Commendation: Lycopodium Modular Plant
Stainless Steel Architectural Commendation
22 Lebone II Amphitheatre Draped Roof Structure
Regional and Pan-African Reach
Pan African
Winner: Botswana International University of Science
Commendation: Bayer Blue Castle Zambia
Best Regional Projects
Gauteng: Woolworths DC Phase 2
North West: Huis Uys
Western Cape: New Orleans Primary School
KwaZulu-Natal: UCL Fruit Packing Facility
Limpopo: Lycopodium Modular Plant
Mpumalanga: Sasol Wood CF 2 Project
Northern Cape: Redstone CSP
Overall Winner: Sasol Wood CF 2 Project
The overall winner for 2025, the Sasol Wood CF 2 Project, represents the kind of complex, high-precision industrial work that shows the full depth of South African steel expertise.
This large-scale development involved the design, fabrication and construction of five massive steel storage tanks for Sasol. It is defined by its innovative engineering solutions, most notably the construction of two tanks featuring 34-metre diameter, self-supporting geodesic dome roofs, made from 18 mm steel plate with no internal structural framework. Achieving a clear span of this size without internal supports, while meeting all design load requirements, is a significant technical achievement, delivered in full compliance with the API 650 standard.
The combination of advanced modelling, precise plate geometry, controlled fabrication and accurate on-site assembly resulted in dome structures that are efficient, robust and visually clean. Within a broader tank farm that demanded rigorous safety management, tight tolerances and coordinated delivery, the Sasol Wood CF 2 Project stands as a benchmark of what local engineers, fabricators and construction teams can achieve when working together at scale.
A Breath of Light in the City: 96 Rissik Street Atrium
The 96 Rissik Street project, which won both the Tubular Category and the Innovation & Sustainability Category, is a standout example of how steel can transform existing spaces into something extraordinary.
This project converted an inner-city courtyard into a bright, modern atrium using a long-span tubular steel roof that appears to float above the space. Supported by slender, tree-like columns, the structure touches the existing building lightly, enhancing rather than overpowering the heritage context. The use of lightweight cladding keeps the roof visually delicate while still delivering strength, weather protection and durability.
96 Rissik Street succeeds because it brings together the practical and the beautiful.
- It revitalises a heritage building with minimal intrusion.
- It uses steel in a visually expressive, architecturally confident way.
- It creates a comfortable, usable atrium space where none existed before.
It is a reminder of how thoughtful steel design can unlock new value in old buildings and elevate urban environments with simplicity and elegance.
Light Steel, Big Impact: The New Orleans Primary Story
Winner of the Light Steel Frame category, New Orleans Primary School is a clear example of steel construction making a direct social impact. Using light steel framing, the project team was able to deliver new classrooms and facilities quickly, with far less disruption than a conventional build would have caused on an active school campus.
The LSF system allowed for precise, factory-controlled components that came together on site with clean lines and consistent quality. For the learners and teachers, the result is a set of bright, modern spaces that are comfortable, robust and easy to maintain.
New Orleans Primary School shows how smart use of steel is not only about structural efficiency. It is also a practical tool for delivering better environments for education and community life, at the speed and scale that South Africa needs.
What the Awards Say About the Sector
Taken together, the 2025 winners and commendations send several important signals about the state of the steel-construction sector:
- The industry has absorbed supply-chain shocks and reorganised around new realities without losing quality.
- There is a visible shift toward innovation and sustainability, with projects like 96 Rissik Street, Lycopodium Modular Plant and Sasol Wood CF 2 demonstrating new ways of working.
- Light steel frame and advanced cladding solutions are steadily becoming central to the industry’s toolkit.
- South African companies continue to play a leading role in major projects across the region, strengthening the case for a resilient local ecosystem.
Most importantly, the Awards confirm that South Africa has the skills, capacity and resourcefulness to keep its steel-construction sector world class, even under pressure.
Recognising Those Who Make It Possible
Main Sponsor
Category Sponsors
Architectural: Bolt and Engineering Distributors (B.E.D.)
Mining: Macsteel
Factory and Warehouse: BSi Steel
Industrial: Stewarts & Lloyds
Metal Cladding: Safal Steel
Light Steel Frame (LSF): Stewarts & Lloyds
Tubular: Association of Steel Tube and Pipe Manufacturers of South Africa (ASTPM)
Innovation and Sustainability: NJR Steel
Pan African: Bolt and Engineering Distributors (B.E.D.)
Supporting the next generation of engineering talent – Mentis
Looking Forward With Confidence
As the evening drew to a close, it was clear that the Steel Awards are more than a celebration of completed projects. They are a signpost for the future. The work showcased in 2025 reflects a sector defined not by constraint, but by creativity and resilience.
In the words of Axel Kayoka, the industry is ready to “meet the next challenge head on.” With resilient supply chains, exceptional technical expertise and a culture of collaboration, the South African steel sector is not just prepared to endure; it is poised to excel.
The Steel Awards 2025 made one thing very clear. The legacy of South African steel is in good hands, and the next generation of steel art is already being imagined, detailed and built.
To view all projects from this year’s event Click Here.
To view the event gallery Click Here.