Thokozile Mnguni
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has invited public submissions on the human rights impact of the rapid expansion of data centres and digital infrastructure in South Africa. The call was issued today.
The Commission is seeking input from a wide range of stakeholders. These include civil society organisations, academics, industry actors, regulators, municipalities, organs of state and members of the public.
It says the aim is to assess whether current legal, environmental and governance frameworks comply with constitutional obligations and international human rights standards.
South Africa has seen strong growth in data centres, cloud infrastructure and related digital systems in recent years. The SAHRC says these developments may support economic growth, digital transformation and artificial intelligence readiness. However, it warns that they also raise human rights and public interest concerns.
Key issues include rising electricity demand and tariffs, water use for cooling, environmental and climate impacts, e-waste management, land use and community participation. The Commission also flagged concerns over data protection, privacy, transparency and accountability.
Other focus areas include equitable access to digital infrastructure, business and human rights responsibilities, and the strength of existing regulatory oversight.
The SAHRC says it will conduct a high-level stakeholder engagement process. This will assess how the sector affects human rights. It will also assess governance and regulatory standards.
The Commission has invited submissions on several themes. These include human rights impacts, environmental sustainability, climate justice, public participation, cybersecurity, governance, regulatory gaps and international best practice.
Submissions may be made by individuals or communities. They may also be made by civil society groups, academics, technical experts, regulators, municipalities, industry representatives and other stakeholders. The submissions process will inform a future stakeholder engagement. It may also inform policy guidance and recommendations to Parliament and other state institutions.
Written submissions must be sent by email, addressed to Dr E. Carter at ecarter@sahrc.org.za and B. Ainslie at bainslie@sahrc.org.za. The subject line must read “Data Centres and Human Rights Submission”.
The closing date is 30 July 2026.