Civil rights groups demand pause on South Africa data-center expansion over water and power concerns

South African civil-rights groups have petitioned for a moratorium on new data-center projects until the consumption of scarce water, land and electricity is fully assessed. The South African Human Rights Commission reported receiving more than 250 responses after inviting public comment in May. President Cyril Ramaphosa promotes the nation as Africa’s primary data hub, attracting firms like Amazon, Microsoft and Equinix, which together account for a large share of the continent’s capacity.

Concerns focus on the lack of transparent data on resource use, highlighted by an Equinix hyperscale centre slated for Cape Town that could require 160 MW of power and operate in a city that previously faced a “Day Zero” water crisis. While Eskom says there is currently a power surplus, civil-society groups remain wary of allocating that surplus to data centres. Industry voices argue that clear, enforceable disclosure rules would address uncertainty without deterring investment, noting that many facilities rely on renewable energy and consume less water than the global average.