The Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) has officially announced the opening of entries for the 2026 Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction (ERWIC) Awards.
 
This year’s awards programme features a new Academic Excellence in the Construction and Built Environment Sector Category, created to recognise and celebrate female academics, lecturers, and researchers who are advancing resilient construction practices, sustainable infrastructure, and skills development across the sector.
 
“The introduction of this new category represents an important evolution for the cidb ERWIC Awards,” said cidb CEO Bongani Dladla. “We are not only celebrating contractors; we are also recognising the academics who shape knowledge, mentor the next generation and strengthen the future of women in construction. By honouring their contribution, we are deepening our transformation agenda and ensuring it is rooted in research, innovation, and sustainable development.”

“The cidb ERWIC Awards have always been about more than just recognition; it is a catalyst for change,” Dladla added. “Whether through adoption of best practice new technologies, or the pursuit of academic excellence, our goal remains the same: to foster an industry that is truly developmental, inclusive, and built to withstand the demands of the future.”
 
Driving Visibility and Partnership
Women remain underrepresented in South Africa’s construction sector, accounting for just 10% of the workforce despite ongoing empowerment initiatives. With the country’s R1.5 trillion infrastructure pipeline, it is vital that women take a greater role in shaping the sector’s future,” Dladla said.
 
The cidb ERWIC Awards provide a powerful platform to highlight the achievements of women-led firms. For government clients and funding partners, the awards also serve as a valuable reference point for identifying capable, compliant contractors and innovative academic collaborators who can drive national development priorities.
 
“We believe the ERWIC Awards help streamline procurement by identifying women-led contractors who are ready to deliver infrastructure programmes on time, within budget, and aligned with B-BBEE transformation objectives,” Dladla said. “Our vetting process supports real skills transfer and economic inclusion and long-term sector growth.”
 
“We have seen past cidb ERWIC Awards winners grow from local operators into national leaders, inspiring the next generation in the process. We invite all 51% women-owned construction companies, academics, clients and built environment professionals to enter today and to start building their legacies,” Dladla concludes.
 
Entries close on 3 July 2026. More information, including the entry guidelines and categories and criteria, is available on the cidb ERWIC Awards website at erwicawards-cidb.co.za