South Africa is reinforcing its position as the digital gateway to the continent, with global payments company Visa choosing it as the site of its first data centre in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The data centre is part of the company’s planned ZAR1 billion investment into digital infrastructure in the country, where it has been active for three decades, reports ITWeb.

According to Visa, the data centre, which is located in Johannesburg, will serve the South African market, but Visa is looking at how it can use the facility to serve a greater part of the region.

‘The data centre isn’t just for South Africa, but a platform for further growth across the continent. It is a sign of the importance the continent has in the global economy, as well as its growing importance in digital payments and the economy overall,’ says Michael Berner, Visa country group manager (Southern and East Africa).

South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, said the data centre would help to lay the digital foundations  that will empower the private sector and citizens.

‘By handling transactions here at home, this facility reduces reliance on overseas infrastructure and boosts our national financial sovereignty. It also supports SA’s drive to build a secure and inclusive digital economy,’ he said.

29 July 2025
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