Activist groups in South Africa are demanding an immediate halt to data center construction until strict new regulations are drafted for the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence sector.
South Africa currently ranks first on the African continent with more than 60 operating data centers, but these facilities place a heavy burden on local water resources, particularly in drought-stricken regions.
Global water consumption by data centers is projected to reach 9,3 triljonus litru līdz 2030. gadam, an amount equivalent to the basic drinking water needs of 1,3 miljardiem cilvēku Subsahāras Āfrikā.
“Tas ietekmē ūdenssaimniecības un kanalizācijas politiku. Tas ietekmē sociālekonomisko attīstību, jo jebkura veida attīstībai ir jāsniedz labums kopienai,” Housing Assembly activist Kens Matlave told AFP said that this massive consumption directly threatens municipal water management and community welfare.
“It impacts water and sanitation policy. It impacts socioeconomic development, because any kind of development has to benefit the community.”
Ken Matlave, activist with the Housing Assembly, told AFP.
Legal Battles Over Cape Town Land Zoning
The Housing Assembly, alongside British nonprofit Foxglove and other organizations, has filed an appeal against a municipal land rezoning decision in a Cape Town informal settlement named Barcelona. Thousands of residents in this area currently live in corrugated metal shacks without running water or indoor sanitation, relying on communal taps filled via buckets daily.
US-based tech enterprise Equinix, which operates approximately 280 data centers worldwide, purchased land in the area to pave the way for development near the international airport. Equinix Managing Director Sandile Dube told AFP that the corporation has no immediate building plans and intends to address the concerns raised by surrounding local communities.
The South African government firmly backs tech investments to market the nation as Africa’s digital gateway, with President Cyril Ramaphosa actively championing foreign capital. In response, the Housing Assembly and climate protection group Extinction Rebellion submitted a joint petition to the mayor of Cape Town in September, demanding a freeze on approvals until legally binding standards govern the industry.
Severe Strain on Local Water and Power Grids
Cape Town currently hosts about ten data centers, with regulatory approval already granted for five additional facilities. Activists warned the South African Human Rights Commission in a formal filing that these large-scale operations could consume vairāk nekā 4,4 miljardus litru ūdens gadā under standard cooling methods, matching the yearly consumption of more than 18,000 households.
A primary criticism leveled against major technology corporations—including Amazon, Microsoft, and Equinix—is their failure to disclose precise metrics regarding local water and electricity usage. Cape Town narrowly avoided a complete municipal water shutoff during a severe crisis in 2018 and faces potential restrictions starting in December due to the warming El Niño weather pattern.
Equinix Managing Director Dube said that the company’s facilities employ dry cooling systems to minimize water usage and plan to source energy from biomass like organic waste to prevent further strain on national grids. Modern data centers are increasingly adopting purified wastewater or constructing dedicated desalination plants to protect public drinking supplies, mirroring mandates enforced on Batam Island in Indonesia.
Darboties datu centru konstrukcijas pēc tās pabeigšanas samazinās
“Tiklīdz tie sāk darboties, tie kļūst par vienām no vismazāk darbietilpīgajām ēkām ekonomikā,” Cape Town University senior lecturer Pitso Tsibolane said Tsibolane cautioned that employment expectations surrounding these facilities remain unrealistic once construction concludes.
“Once they are operational, they become some of the least labor-intensive buildings in the economy.”
Pitso Tsibolane, senior lecturer in information systems at the University of Cape Town, noted.
Equinix reported that its data center near Johannesburg employed approximately 750 workers during construction, but now maintains a permanent staff of only 26 people. Tsibolane emphasized that operators must be legally required to disclose energy consumption, water footprints, and cooling infrastructure details before obtaining project approval.
“Clear regulations do not scare away serious investors,” Tsibolane said.
Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi said that while specific data center regulations are still pending, incoming facilities must comply with existing environmental and construction laws while prioritizing energy and water self-sufficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions About South African Data Centers
Which companies are facing resistance in Cape Town?
US-based tech enterprise Equinix has faced legal challenges from activist groups like the Housing Assembly after acquiring land in an informal settlement.
What percentage of energy do operational data centers use?
A 160-megawatt data center operating at full capacity consumes approximately 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
How many permanent jobs do these facilities create?
An Equinix facility near Johannesburg employed 750 workers during construction but retains a permanent staff of only 26 employees.