South Africa: Approved in the Dark - - the Hidden Environmental Toll of SA's Data Centre Boom

What the report says

Civil society groups in South Africa are pressing for tighter oversight of the country’s rapidly expanding data centre sector, warning that large facilities could place added pressure on water supplies, electricity networks and land use. According to Daily Maverick, five organisations have made a joint submission to the South African Human Rights Commission, which is examining the human rights implications of the boom.

The article cites a recent City of Cape Town planning decision involving a second Equinix hyperscale data centre at the King Air Industria site. One tribunal member voted against the approval, arguing that the application did not adequately address water and electricity demand. Daily Maverick says the project was still approved, and that the developer indicated details on water use would be confirmed only after approval.

The piece places the debate in a wider local context, noting memories of water shortages in Cape Town during the 2017-2018 crisis, including in nearby communities such as Bishop Lavis and informal settlements in Gugulethu. The concern raised by campaigners is not that data centres are unnecessary, but that South Africa is treating them like ordinary buildings despite their heavy infrastructure needs.

More broadly, the report reflects growing scrutiny of how governments regulate digital infrastructure as demand rises. Data centres are essential to cloud services and the digital economy, but the article argues that their environmental and social costs are often assessed only after key approvals have already been granted.