South Africa’s data centre boom hits a wall: Water and power first.

Civil society groups in South Africa are demanding a temporary stop to the construction of new data centres. They want a full investigation into how these facilities use the country’s scarce water, land, and electricity before any more are built. The call comes as the nation struggles with regular power cuts and water shortages, raising questions about whether large tech infrastructure should be prioritised over public needs. Activists argue that no new permits should be issued until a clear resource audit is completed.