Article

A $9.8 billion AI project backed by Asian investors is proposed for South Africa, aiming to establish the country as a key player in the global AI infrastructure race. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini has raised governance concerns, emphasizing the need for transparency given the project's scale.

Local political representatives have criticized the lack of details shared before the proposal became public. Concerns include the project's impact on electricity and water resources, particularly as global AI-related electricity consumption is expected to double this decade. The proposed site lies within the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (D'MOSS), prompting environmental scrutiny and questions about local infrastructure stability.