AI has arrived in South Africa’s boardrooms …
But company law hasn’t caught up.
South African civil rights groups are protesting the expansion of data centers owned by American tech giants, marking a coordinated effort on the continent to curb AI infrastructure development. Kashiefa Achmat, chairperson of Cape Town-based advocacy group Housing Assembly, stated that a moratorium on data centers should be implemented across South Africa.
The region currently boasts the most data centers on the continent, predominantly owned by American hyperscalers such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, and operators like Equinix and Digital Realty. The demand for compute power in Africa is projected to reach 2.2 gigawatts by 2030, five times the current levels, according to a McKinsey report.
Major tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon Web Services have pledged significant investments to expand their digital and AI infrastructure in South Africa. However, civil society groups argue that the expansion poses significant challenges, particularly concerning water and electricity usage, and the potential strain on already-scarce resources.
They have filed a legal challenge against proposed data centers in Cape Town, demanding new regulations that require operators to disclose their water and electricity consumption and provide benefits to local communities. The groups also highlight the environmental concerns associated with data centers, citing examples from the U.S. and India where residents have staged protests against similar projects.
While some, like Obinna Isiadinso, argue that the pushback should not halt Africa's data center expansion, others emphasize the need for transparency and equitable benefits for local communities to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities.
Written by urgent.news from Rest of World Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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