What’s the Deal with Data Centres?

What’s the Deal with Data Centres?

On 14 July 2026, the City of Cape Town approved land-use applications paving the way for a proposed hyperscale data centre near Barcelona, beside Cape Town International Airport. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of data centres on water resources, electricity demand, land use, the environment and surrounding communities.

St George’s Cathedral will host a public hearing on Saturday 26 September, from 09:00–12:30, bringing together experts, civil society organisations and community voices to explore what the rapid growth of AI and data centres could mean for Cape Town. The morning will include presentations, updates and a Q&A with experts from UCT, the Legal Resources Centre, Housing Assembly, Foxglove, the South African Human Rights Commission, Open Secrets, Green Anglicans, Living Water and SAFCEI.

All are welcome. Please register to attend or stay informed:

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrr5myNPxcfY_7GLDcTkbaLjfyE3cw9SkLHMyvBFXofaK-sQ/viewform?pli=1

Saturday 26 September | 09:00–12:30

St George’s Cathedral, 5 Wale Street, Cape Town