South Africa’s National Treasury plans to accelerate data centre growth and strengthen the country’s position as a digital infrastructure hub for the continent. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the government now views data infrastructure as essential to the economy, comparing it to electricity, ports, and transport networks. “The use of data and artificial intelligence has become critical for the future development of economies worldwide,” Godongwana said in his 2026 budget speech on Wednesday. “Data infrastructure should be considered as critical as electricity, ports and transport networks.” The minister added that the National Treasury would explore options to help data centres and related infrastructure expand, reinforcing South Africa’s role as a regional hub for cloud and A...