Rwanda’s F1 victory, a lesson for SA

Rwanda President Paul Kagame at the F1 Grand Prix announcement. / Jean Baptiste Nkurunziza / AFP

This week, Rwanda scored a momentous victory when it was announced as the next African host of a Formula One Grand Prix. The small Central African country has emerged as a serious contender to bring the world’s premier motorsport series back to Africa for the first time since 1993, when South Africa hosted the last African Grand Prix at the famous Kyalami circuit north of Johannesburg.

The significance of Rwanda’s achievement has not received the attention it deserves, particularly on the African continent, given the magnitude and historical implications of the announcement.

In April 1994, barely a year after the last Grand Prix on African soil on March 14 1993, Rwanda descended into one of the most horrific genocides in modern history. In approximately 100 days, nearly 800,000 people, predominantly members of the minority Tutsi population, were killed before the genocide was brought to an end by the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front, which had launched its campaign from Uganda.

Just 10 days after the genocide began, South Africa held its first democratic elections on April 27 1994. At the time, South Africa appeared far better positioned than Rwanda to build a stable, prosperous and internationally respected state.

Thirty-two years later, however, the two countries offer strikingly different pictures of national progress. Rwanda has cultivated a reputation for safety, stability, efficient administration and investment-friendly policies, while South Africa continues to grapple with violent crime, economic stagnation and serious weaknesses in public service delivery.

Rwanda’s stability and investor-friendly environment have helped attract international capital. Its economy has maintained strong growth, with annual expansion significantly outpacing South Africa’s sluggish performance in recent years. The contrast raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: how has a country devastated by genocide managed to position itself as an increasingly attractive investment destination while South Africa struggles to realise its considerable economic potential?

These developments are not new. In its July 4 2019 article, How Rwanda surpassed SA: The importance of economic freedom, News24 highlighted Rwanda’s improved standing in the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World index, reporting that it had climbed to second place in Africa, behind Mauritius. The comparison illustrated how policy choices and the business environment can influence a country’s economic fortunes.

Rwanda has also recognised the power of sport as a vehicle for international branding and economic diplomacy. Its investment in football sponsorship, including the prominent Visit Rwanda branding displayed during English Premier League matches, has helped put the country before a global audience. Its involvement in basketball has similarly sought to attract visitors, investors and international partnerships.

The proposed Formula One Grand Prix represents a potentially even greater opportunity. Rwanda does not yet have the infrastructure required to host a race, but it has time to prepare and a track record of pursuing ambitious investment projects. Crucially, it also has the backing of Formula One’s leadership.

Announcing the development on Tuesday, Formula One president Stefano Domenicali described it as a landmark moment for the sport. He said Africa had always been part of Formula One’s future and that the organisation was determined to return with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating a meaningful impact.

Such backing is significant. If translated into sustained investment, sound planning and the necessary infrastructure, it could help Rwanda turn its Grand Prix ambition into reality.

The country already has substantial investment momentum. Earlier this year, the Rwanda Development Board reported that investment worth $2.62-billion (about R43-billion) had been registered in 2025 across 799 projects, compared with 612 projects in 2024. These figures point to growing investor interest and provide a foundation on which the country can build as it prepares for the demands of hosting a global sporting spectacle.

Rwanda’s appeal also rests on the everyday experience it offers visitors and businesses.

Kigali is known for its clean streets, relatively orderly urban environment and efforts to improve public transport through regulated bus services and digital payment systems. These features contribute to the country’s image as a destination capable of hosting international events.

Of course, delivering a successful Grand Prix will require more than a positive international image. Rwanda will need to develop the necessary circuit infrastructure, meet Formula One’s demanding technical and safety requirements, and ensure the economic benefits justify the considerable investment.

Wider support from African countries, including South Africa, will also be important. Bringing Formula One back to Africa should be celebrated as a continental achievement, even as Rwanda’s success prompts South Africa to reflect on the opportunities it has failed to seize.

South Africa has the established Kyalami circuit, a rich motorsport history and a much larger industrial and commercial base. Yet these advantages have not been enough to secure the return of Formula One. Rwanda’s progress is a reminder that reputation, political commitment, effective administration and a compelling long-term vision can matter as much as a country’s size or inherited advantages.

For Rwanda, the proposed Grand Prix is an opportunity to demonstrate how far the country has come since its darkest days. For South Africa, it should serve as a wake-up call: potential alone does not guarantee progress.

All the best to Rwanda and its people.