South Africa data centre boom faces scrutiny over water and power use
South African civil rights groups urge a halt on new data centres, citing concerns over water, land, and electricity use.
Civil society organisations in South Africa are pressing for a moratorium on new data centre construction until the environmental and resource implications are fully examined. The call comes as the country positions itself as Africa's primary digital hub, attracting major investment from global technology firms.
The South African Human Rights Commission has received over 250 submissions from interested parties since inviting public input in May. The commission's preliminary inquiry has highlighted a lack of transparent information regarding electricity and water demand, land use, and potential impacts on local communities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted that South Africa hosts 70% of Africa's data centre capacity and has actively encouraged further investment in digital infrastructure. However, this growth has prompted comparisons to international trends, where the long-term societal and environmental costs of such facilities are being increasingly questioned.
A recent municipal approval for an Equinix hyperscale facility in Cape Town has intensified concerns. The city narrowly avoided a severe water crisis in 2018, and the proposed centre is estimated to require 160 megawatts of electricity. While the national power utility, Eskom, currently reports a surplus, activists worry about the allocation of this power to commercial data centres.
Experts suggest the demand for a pause is not a rejection of foreign investment but a call for clearer regulatory frameworks. "Serious investors are not deterred by clear rules," said Pitso Tsibolane, a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town. He noted that operators are not currently required to disclose binding commitments on resource usage.
Industry representatives argue that South African data centres are more efficient than their American counterparts, with lower water consumption and a growing reliance on renewable energy. Sasha Booth-Beharilal of the Internet Service Providers Association stated that the sector's energy demand is not contributing to electricity scarcity or rising tariffs.