Supporters of Extinction Rebellion Cape Town protest against proposed data centres in the city, outside the Civic Centre in Cape Town, on September 4, 2026. As the South African government encourages data centre development to promote "Africa's digital gateway", civil society groups have demanded a moratorium and the establishment of controls. With around 63 centres, South Africa is the most advanced data centre market on the continent, which has less than one percent of global facilities, and is keen to attract more in a sector being propelled by the AI boom. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP via Getty Images)

This pictures whows a view of an electrical distribution board inside the JN1 Equinix 4 megawatts capacity data centre in Germiston, near Johannesburg, on October 1, 2026. As the South African government encourages data centre development to promote "Africa's digital gateway", civil society groups have demanded a moratorium and the establishment of controls. With around 63 centres, South Africa is the most advanced data centre market on the continent, which has less than one percent of global facilities, and is keen to attract more in a sector being propelled by the AI boom. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP via Getty Images)

Waste-water runs down a channel in a street at the Barcelona informal settlement in Gugulethu, which is located less than 2km from the site of a proposed large data centre near Cape Town International Airport, in Cape Town, on September 7, 2026. As the South African government encourages data centre development to promote "Africa's digital gateway", civil society groups have demanded a moratorium and the establishment of controls. With around 63 centres, South Africa is the most advanced data centre market on the continent, which has less than one percent of global facilities, and is keen to attract more in a sector being propelled by the AI boom. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP via Getty Images)

This picture shows the Equinix logo through security doors inside the JN1 Equinix 4 megawatts capacity data centre in Germiston, near Johannesburg, on October 1, 2026. As the South African government encourages data centre development to promote "Africa's digital gateway", civil society groups have demanded a moratorium and the establishment of controls. With around 63 centres, South Africa is the most advanced data centre market on the continent, which has less than one percent of global facilities, and is keen to attract more in a sector being propelled by the AI boom. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP via Getty Images)

A banner sits in an empty server hall ready for expansion inside the JN1 Equinix 4 megawatts capacity data centre in Germiston, near Johannesburg, on October 1, 2026. As the South African government encourages data centre development to promote "Africa's digital gateway", civil society groups have demanded a moratorium and the establishment of controls. With around 63 centres, South Africa is the most advanced data centre market on the continent, which has less than one percent of global facilities, and is keen to attract more in a sector being propelled by the AI boom. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP via Getty Images)

This picture shows a data centre in Diepriver, currently operating in a light industrial area in Cape Town, on September 18, 2026. As the South African government encourages data centre development to promote "Africa's digital gateway", civil society groups have demanded a moratorium and the establishment of controls. With around 63 centres, South Africa is the most advanced data centre market on the continent, which has less than one percent of global facilities, and is keen to attract more in a sector being propelled by the AI boom. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP via Getty Images)

This picture shows a view of doors leading to a server hall inside the JN1 Equinix 4 megawatts capacity data centre in Germiston, near Johannesburg, on October 1, 2026. As the South African government encourages data centre development to promote "Africa's digital gateway", civil society groups have demanded a moratorium and the establishment of controls. With around 63 centres, South Africa is the most advanced data centre market on the continent, which has less than one percent of global facilities, and is keen to attract more in a sector being propelled by the AI boom. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP via Getty Images)

Housing Assembly (HA) movement activist Kenneth Matlawe stands at the site of a proposed data centre near Cape Town International Airport, in Cape Town on September 7, 2026. As the South African government encourages data centre development to promote "Africa's digital gateway", civil society groups have demanded a moratorium and the establishment of controls. With around 63 centres, South Africa is the most advanced data centre market on the continent, which has less than one percent of global facilities, and is keen to attract more in a sector being propelled by the AI boom. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP via Getty Images)