Stefanutti Stocks and WBHO joint venture secures E2.67 billion Eswatini highway contract as technical audit begins

Eswatini has awarded an E2.67 billion road expansion contract to a South African joint venture of Stefanutti Stocks and WBHO Construction. Backed by the African Development Bank, the project transitions into the execution phase as the government opens procurement for an independent technical auditor.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport in Eswatini has officially advanced the first phase of the Eswatini Road Infrastructure Improvement Programme by finalizing a major construction award and initiating oversight procurement. A South African joint venture consisting of civil engineering firms Stefanutti Stocks (Pty) Ltd and WBHO Construction (Pty) Ltd has been awarded the primary infrastructure contract following a competitive international bidding process. Concurrently, public procurement authorities have launched a selection process to secure an independent consulting firm to conduct comprehensive technical audits throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Stefanutti Stocks and WBHO Construction are prominent Southern African engineering and construction groups listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, specializing in large-scale structural, transport, and civil infrastructure developments across the continent. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport serves as the executive government body responsible for designing, building, and maintaining Eswatini's national transport network and public infrastructure assets.

The joint venture secured the contract with an evaluated tender price of E2,669.16 million, outperforming four international bidders from regions including China, Botswana, and Egypt. The scope of the physical works encompasses the construction of 105.8 kilometers of single-carriageway highway spanning the Siphofaneni-Sithobela-Maloma-Nsoko and Maloma-Siphambanweni routes. Additional engineering deliverables include four major river bridges, a road-under-bridge structure, dedicated drainage networks, and formalized environmental mitigation frameworks. The construction timeline is slated for 36 months, supplemented by a standard 12-month defect notification period.

This infrastructural expansion carries substantial economic weight as it is financed through capital secured from the African Development Bank. By introducing a mandatory technical audit alongside active construction, the regional government is implementing a structured governance framework to mitigate financial leakages, verify engineering compliance, and ensure structural durability. This dual-track approach reflects a growing emphasis on transparency and fiscal accountability in state-led infrastructure rollouts within Southern Africa.

For the broader construction and consulting engineering industries, the development establishes a clear benchmark for multilateral-funded projects in the region. The disqualification of multiple international competitors during preliminary rounds highlights the critical importance of rigorous compliance, particularly regarding bid validities and security guarantees in public procurement. Furthermore, the cross-border contract reinforces the market dominance of established South African tier-one contractors in executing complex, large-scale transport corridors across the Southern African Development Community region.