POWER GUZZLERS (PART TWO): Major SA data centre expansion plans emerge, set to more than double current power demand

South Africa is on the cusp of a hyperscale data-centre boom that could add more than 1,200 MW to national electricity demand, driven by massive expansion plans from Teraco and newcomer Cavaleros, alongside Microsoft’s growing cloud and AI footprint. While the investments promise digital growth, they also raise urgent questions about power, water use and transparency in a country already facing long-term supply constraints.