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South Africa Pushes Digital, Infrastructure and Investment Agenda at AFSIC 2025

At the AFSIC – SA Investment Summit in London, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong delivered a message of optimism and renewed purpose: South Africa is fast becoming Africa’s digital and investment powerhouse, using its resilient economy and advanced infrastructure to draw global capital and lead continental growth. Government of South Africa+1

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Key Economic Strengths: GDP, Governance & Digital Growth

South Africa’s economy, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about ZAR 7 trillion (€348.5 billion), remains one of the most integrated and diversified on the continent. Government of South Africa+1

  • The country hosts over 180 Fortune Global 500 companies. Government of South Africa+1

  • Its digital economy is forecast to contribute between 15–20% of GDP by 2025, nearly doubling its share since 2020. Growth is being driven by fintech, e‑commerce, and cloud services. Government of South Africa+1

Infrastructure & Digital Connectivity as the Cornerstones

Deputy Minister Morolong emphasized that robust digital infrastructure is central to South Africa’s strategy:

  • Investments in submarine cable systems such as Seacom 2.0, Equiano, 2Africa, and WACS are enhancing connectivity to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. thepresidency.gov.za+1
  • Expansion of 4G and 5G networks, and initiatives like terrestrial fibre and last‑mile broadband, are helping close connectivity gaps. Government of South Africa+1
  • The data centre industry is booming, with major players like Teraco, Equinix, Africa Data Centres, Vantage, and NTT scaling operations to support cloud, AI, and analytic services. thepresidency.gov.za+1

Investment Opportunities & Sector Priorities

Morolong outlined key sectors offering strong investment potential:

  • Data centres & cloud services
  • Broadband, last‑mile connectivity, 5G smart infrastructure
  • E‑commerce, logistics and fintech/digital payments
  • Renewable‑powered digital infrastructure
  • Digital skills development including AI, analytics, data science Government of South Africa+1

Also mentioned is the government’s ZAR 900 billion infrastructure pipeline through 2027, policy reforms, and regulatory clarity—elements aimed at boosting investor confidence. thepresidency.gov.za+1

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South Africa’s Edge & Continental Role

South Africa’s geographic position, governance frameworks, financial services sector, and startup ecosystem give it advantages:

  • Access to AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) gives entry to a market of over 1.3 billion consumers with combined GDP in the trillions. allAfrica.com+1
  • A mature banking system and fintech hub make it a strong launchpad for cross‑border digital trade and financial inclusion. thepresidency.gov.za+1
  • Being among the first in Africa to attract large‑scale data centres and international tech infrastructure projects signals seriousness about being a continental digital node. thepresidency.gov.za+1

A Call to Global Capital for Sustainable Partnerships

Morolong made clear that South Africa isn’t just “open for business”—it is “ready for sustainable partnerships.” He reiterated that:

  • Policy certainty, infrastructure renewal, and governance stability are being strengthened. Government of South Africa+1
  • Investment isn’t just about profits—it’s about co‑creating industrial, digital, and green value for Africa. allAfrica.com+1

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