South Africa pushes to become Africa’s data centre hub as minister Malatsi courts investors

“Cloud services and artificial intelligence are powered by data centers, which are the foundation of the digital economy,” Malatsi said. He reiterated the government’s ambition to position South Africa as Africa’s leading hub for data centers, stressing that sustained engagement with investors and stakeholders is key to ensuring the digital economy fuels both job creation and economic growth.

“We remain committed to driving initiatives that address the challenges facing the industry while creating opportunities for the expansion of additional data centers in South Africa,” Malatsi said.

His remarks drew support from industry leaders. Yasmin Khaliq, an international marketing executive based in the UAE, praised the minister’s efforts to champion the digital economy. Writing on LinkedIn, she noted that Equinix is aligned with his office’s digital agenda and confirmed the company will host stakeholders in Johannesburg on October 7 to explore artificial intelligence opportunities and strategies to accelerate growth.

Yousif Z, an IT Operations Manager based in Pakistan, also commented, saying, "Incredible initiative! Data centers are truly the foundation of the digital economy, and positioning South Africa as a regional hub is a strategic move with enormous potential." He noted that only sustained collaboration between public and private stakeholders is necessary to unlock investment, innovation, and job creation across the sector.