Civil society groups in South Africa are calling for greater scrutiny of new data centre projects amid concerns over their potential impact on the country’s water, electricity and land resources.
The groups are urging authorities to review proposed developments before granting further approvals, arguing that more information is needed about the resources required to operate the facilities and their potential impact on surrounding communities.
The concerns come as South Africa continues to attract major investments in digital infrastructure.
The country hosts about 70% of Africa’s data centre capacity, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has described the sector’s growth as an economic opportunity.
Technology companies including Amazon, Microsoft and Equinix have expanded their data centre operations in the country as demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other digital services grows.
However, the rapid expansion has triggered concerns among communities and civil society organisations over whether South Africa has sufficient water and electricity resources to support additional facilities.
The South African Human Rights Commission received more than 250 submissions after inviting public input on data centre developments in May 2026.
Dr Eileen Carter, who leads the commission’s preliminary process, said a key concern raised during the process was the availability and transparency of information on electricity and water demand, land use, infrastructure requirements and environmental impacts.
One of the projects attracting scrutiny is a planned Equinix hyperscale facility in Cape Town, where concerns over water consumption have been heightened by the city’s experience with severe water shortages.
Cape Town came close to reaching “Day Zero” in 2018, when authorities warned that municipal water supplies could run out amid a prolonged drought.
The Equinix facility is estimated to require about 160 megawatts of electricity, raising concerns over its potential impact on the country’s power supply.
South Africa’s power utility Eskom reported surplus electricity capacity during this year’s winter peak-demand period, but civil society groups remain concerned that additional data centre developments could increase pressure on the power system.
Some industry representatives, however, have rejected claims that data centres are a significant driver of South Africa’s resource challenges.
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Sasha Booth-Beharilal, chair of the Internet Service Providers Association, said rising electricity demand from data centres had not contributed meaningfully to broader electricity tariff increases or shortages.
Industry operators have also argued that South African data centres should not be directly compared with large facilities in the United States because their resource requirements and operating conditions can differ.
Pitso Tsibolane, a senior lecturer in Information Systems at the University of Cape Town, said clearer regulations would not necessarily discourage investors, arguing that uncertainty created by an unregulated expansion could pose a greater risk to the industry.
The debate comes as South Africa seeks to expand its digital infrastructure while balancing the growing demands of data centres against pressure on essential resources.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
