The University of Pretoria will host the 2026 Timber Construction Conference at their Future Africa Campus, in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and the Pretoria Institute for Architecture on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. The theme of conference is Connected by Timber: From Forests to Future Cities.

The conference aims to promote the widespread adoption of timber construction throughout South Africa, highlighting the numerous benefits and exploring the potential of timber construction. It brings together industry experts, government officials, and thought leaders to share their knowledge, insights, and experiences.

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr John Steenhuisen, will open the conference. He is expected to highlight the dtic’s comprehensive strategy to promote timber construction. This strategy, created in collaboration with industry partners, aims to create large-scale awareness highlighting the numerous advantages of building with wood.

the dtic is actively encouraging the adoption of timber in construction, which will drive sustainable development and economic growth within the forestry sector and enable innovative building solutions. The main advantages of timber construction are faster build times and cost-efficiency through modular and prefabricated components. Additional benefits include lower carbon footprint and improved thermal and acoustic insulation.

A key benefit of timber construction to the local economy is providing new uses and revenue streams for the South African sawmilling and forestry industry. the dtic‘s strategy recognises the importance of diversifying the forestry industry to stimulate job creation and sustainability. Faster and more cost-effective building practices are also crucial to addressing the severe shortage of affordable housing in the country.

the dtic is working in collaboration with academic institutions such as the Stellenbosch and Nelson Mandela universities on the promotion of timber use in the construction industry. Stellenbosch University has done a lot of work on the potential of South African timber products to reduce the environmental impacts of buildings.

The conference will be preceded by the Timber Construction Colloquium that will take place tomorrow. It will focus on research and innovation, and will include a visit to the Engineering 4.0 Timber Laboratory at UP’s Future Africa Campus.