In a country building towards a better future, what we put into our infrastructure today determines its value tomorrow. From homes and schools to highways and water systems, South Africa’s development depends on strong lasting foundations and that means choosing quality construction materials from the start. AfriSam’s Sales and Marketing Executive, Richard Tomes, says that quality cement is one of the most unappreciated yet critical components in our built environment.

“It is central to the way we create our modern world and facilitate development, providing a cost effective path to a better future,” Tomes says. This cement, often hidden from sight beneath roads or inside walls, is the glue that binds the country’s progress together.

What sets AfriSam apart is not just the volume of cement it produces but the quality behind every bag. Each product is designed for longevity because early repairs or rebuilds are simply not an option for developing countries. Good cement choices made decades ago are still saving money today by reducing the need for maintenance and freeing up resources for other priorities.

AfriSam’s All Purpose Cement is a standout in its class - engineered to remove confusion in the market and deliver consistent high performance results across structural and residential applications. For the manufacturing sector, AfriSam’s Rapid Hard Cement gives precast and paving producers the speed they need to stay productive, offering high early strength and faster turnaround times. On South Africa’s roads, the company’s RoadStab Cement, a specially formulated cement for stabilising the layers beneath the surface, helping prevent the scourge of potholes.

Large infrastructure demands even more specialised solutions. On projects like the Lesotho Highlands Water scheme and the construction of wind turbine bases, AfriSam’s low-heat cement helped mitigate cracking by carefully managing the heat of hydration during curing. “It is not just about performance – it is about precision,” Tomes says.

That same attention to detail extends to AfriSam’s environmental approach. By incorporating extenders such as fly ash and slag - byproducts from coal and steel production - the company significantly reduces the carbon footprint of its cements. In fact, its average carbon content per kilogram of cement is below the global average. And with low-water-demand options now available, customers can help preserve one of South Africa’s scarcest resources.

But perhaps what matters most is how AfriSam ensures its quality promise reaches customers. Through its bi-annual Voice of Customer survey the company gains real-time insights across the full customer journey, from product selection to final payment. “Just like checking out of a hotel, the final experience can shape the entire perception,” says Tomes. “Our goal is to deliver not only a great product, but a great relationship through remarkable service.”

“In the end, it is simple,” he says. “If you want infrastructure that lasts, start with materials that are built to. What goes into it matters because the future depends on it.”