As South Africa confronts issues such as ageing infrastructure, rising energy demand and the need to modernise its power systems, few companies can claim a legacy as deeply intertwined with the country’s mining and industrial development as CBi-electric: african cables, a member of the JSE-listed industrial group Reunert.

Founded on December 20, 1935, the company commemorates 90 years of continuous operation, a milestone that reflects not only longevity but sustained relevance in a demanding and evolving market.

According to CBi-electric: african cables Managing Director, Mr Luis Corte, the company’s journey mirrors South Africa’s own industrial growth, adding that, what began as a manufacturer of telecommunications and basic energy, AFCAB has steadily expanded into a broad portfolio of specialized power cable solutions, with a strong focus on the mining, industrial and energy sectors.

Over decades, African Cables has adapted its technologies and capabilities to meet increasingly complex customer requirements, positioning itself as a trusted supplier to some of the country’s most critical infrastructure projects.

“What has defined our growth is the ability to evolve our technology and our skills base in line with customer needs. We don’t see ourselves as simply selling a product; we focus on delivering a complete technical solution,” Mr Corte says.

Institutional Memory, In-House Expertise

This solutions-driven approach has been underpinned by a sustained investment in people and skills, and Mr Corte emphasizes that African Cables’ strength lies in its in-house engineering expertise, built through long-term training and knowledge development.

As the company’s technical capabilities expanded, so too did its ability to support customers with engineering insight, system design and product life-cycle support – rather than mere cable supply.

This depth of capability is particularly evident in the company’s product evolution given that African Cables’ manufacturing history spans several technological eras, beginning with paper-insulated lead cables in the 1950s, followed by the introduction of medium-voltage cables later that decade.

By 1979, the company broke new ground in Southern Africa by manufacturing high-voltage cables locally; a move that significantly strengthened regional infrastructure independence.

Another major milestone followed in 2014, when African Cables commissioned a new High Voltage production set of lines, and this investment enabled the company to offer a full high-voltage package for large scale infrastructure projects, reinforcing its position as a one-stop partner for complex power applications.

Crucially, all engineering design is conducted in-house, from system specification determination, and cable design, through to manufacturing, installation, termination, testing and ongoing maintenance of the cables, AFCAB retains full control of the value chain.

“That end-to-end system design ownership allows us to ensure system integrity, safety and reliability. It gives our customers confidence that the solution will perform as intended, often in harsh and demanding environments,” Mr Corte says.

Local Content Endorsement, Future Readiness

Mr Corte notes that localisation has also been a defining feature of the African Cables business as the company is uniquely positioned as the only company in South Africa with full vertical integration from copper melting through to finished cable manufacturing. This capability not only supports local content requirements but also strengthens supply security and skills development, he adds.

Through its broad-based black economic empowerment initiatives, the company has supported the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, thereby ensuring that technical skills are built and retained locally.

Looking ahead, African Cables continues to invest in future readiness, and, over the past three years, the company has invested between R100- R200-million in upgrading equipment and manufacturing processes. These investments ensure that production facilities remain aligned with evolving customer specifications, including bespoke and application-specific requirements that are now increasingly demanded by modern infrastructure projects.

At the same time, African Cables’ in-house engineering team remains closely connected to global technology trends and the company’s engineers regularly engage with international peers in Europe and Australia to stay informed of developments in electrical infrastructure, thereby ensuring that global best practice is adequately translated into local solutions.

For Mr Corte, the company’s 90-year milestone is as much about people as it is about products. “Our success has always been driven by the expertise, commitment and adaptability of our teams. That human element is what allows us to respond to change, support our customers and remain relevant in a challenging environment,” he says.

As South Africa continues to invest in energy security, grid resilience and industrial renewal, CBi-electric: african cables’ combination of heritage, technical depth and people-centered leadership positions the company to remain essential in the country’s electrical infrastructure for decades to come.