- Funding to broaden Microsoft’s hyperscale cloud and AI infrastructure in South Africa, supporting the nation’s ambition to develop into a globally aggressive AI economic system
- New programme extends Microsoft’s AI skilling initiative in South Africa by paying for 50,000 younger folks’s certification exams in high-demand digital abilities over the following 12 months.
- Mixed investments in infrastructure, skilling, and office certifications are designed to foster innovation, financial development, and workforce improvement.
Johannesburg, 06 March 2025 – Microsoft immediately introduced plans to spend ZAR 5.4bn by the tip of 2027 to broaden its cloud and AI infrastructure in South Africa to satisfy the rising demand for Azure providers within the area. This funding builds on the corporate’s ZAR 20.4bn funding over the previous three years to determine the nation’s first enterprise-grade datacentres in Johannesburg and Cape City.
This spherical of funding will allow a variety of organisations, from start-ups to giant multinationals and authorities entities to entry the cloud and AI options to enhance operational effectivity and productiveness, optimise the supply of providers, and drive innovation throughout the South African economic system. Offering entry to world-class digital infrastructure, coupled with enhancing the capabilities for the South African workforce helps contribute to a future the place AI is seamlessly built-in into each facet of society, driving development and innovation.
President Ramaphosa stated, “Past blazing a path within the native know-how house, the longstanding presence of Microsoft in South Africa is a vote of confidence in our nation and in our economic system. The strategic funding bulletins made by Microsoft immediately stands as additional testimony to this enduring confidence. They sign to the enterprise and investor group that South Africa’s economic system continues to carry immense potential and that it’s a beneficial place to do enterprise the place their investments are safe.”
Clients throughout varied industries in South Africa and Africa, together with monetary providers, healthcare, retail, agriculture, mining, and public sector, are already reaping the advantages of Microsoft cloud and AI applied sciences.
“For greater than 30 years, Microsoft has been a dedicated associate to South Africa,” stated Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft. “This newest funding is a part of our broader focus in serving to South Africans construct a future the place know-how drives prosperity and younger staff have the talents they should thrive.”
Strengthening digital and AI abilities
In keeping with the World Financial Discussion board, 60 % of firms within the World South establish a crucial abilities hole as a key barrier to enterprise digitally remodeling by 2030. Addressing this hole is crucial for fostering financial development and innovation. Earlier this yr, Microsoft dedicated to skilling a million South Africans by 2026, equipping firms, authorities and youth with the information and instruments to create AI options to deal with native challenges with homegrown options, whereas contributing to the nation’s AI workforce and ecosystem.
To assist job seekers validate their know-how proficiency to employers, Microsoft will broaden its digital abilities initiative over the following 12 months by paying for 50,000 folks to be “Microsoft Licensed” in high-demand abilities like AI, Information Science, Cybersecurity Evaluation and Cloud Answer Structure. Microsoft gives a wide range of certifications underneath the Microsoft Licensed umbrella, validating abilities and experience in areas resembling cloud computing, synthetic intelligence, information science, cybersecurity, and software program improvement, to assist people display their proficiency and readiness for in-demand tech roles.
By combining abilities coaching with recognised certifications, Microsoft goals to create a future-ready workforce for South Africa and past.
That is simply the newest in a string of investments in South Africa that span 30 years.
In 2024 alone, greater than 150,000 folks had been skilled in digital and AI abilities, 95,000 licensed and 1,800 secured employment alternatives via Microsoft’s Abilities for Jobs programme, thereby addressing ICT abilities gaps, getting ready them for high-demand roles, and paving the best way for his or her future success within the AI economic system. Moreover, Microsoft has a longstanding dedication of offering donated and discounted software program to South African academic establishments, nonprofit organisations, public libraries, and museums to allow equitable entry to know-how, academic instruments and digital abilities. Over the previous yr, that dedication exceeded $100 million in South Africa.
These are usually not simply investments and programmes; they’re an integral a part of Microsoft’s long-term dedication to South Africa and pathways to a extra inclusive, sustainable economic system.
Enabling Africa to develop into a producer of AI know-how, not only a shopper
The event of sturdy know-how infrastructure and the cultivation of digital abilities are paramount in transitioning from a shopper to a producer of AI know-how.
Extra broadly, Microsoft believes that South Africa has a chance to paved the way in enabling Africa to develop into a producer of AI know-how, not only a shopper. In keeping with a latest United Nations report, pressing infrastructure investments and regulatory frameworks are very important – particularly, investments in connectivity and AI governance frameworks.
By investing in cutting-edge infrastructure and fostering a talented workforce, South Africa and Africa can unlock new alternatives for innovation, enterprise improvement, financial development, and aggressive benefit on the worldwide stage.
Advancing AI responsibly and sustainably
The AI infrastructure working in South Africa can be ruled by Microsoft’s AI Entry Ideas. They mirror Microsoft’s increasing function and duty as a frontrunner in AI and commit the corporate to creating investments, forging enterprise partnerships, and creating programmes that guarantee broad entry to its AI know-how that allow organisations and people to develop and use AI in methods that can serve the general public good.
It’s also a notable yr for Microsoft. Along with celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of our firm’s founding, it’s the midpoint of our personal sustainability journey. In 2020 we introduced our ambitions to be carbon destructive, water constructive, and 0 waste by 2030, all whereas defending ecosystems. Now we have made great progress over the previous 5 years, and we’re happy with what we’ve completed.
At the moment, we’re one of many largest carbon-free power patrons on this planet, with a 34-gigawatt (GW) contracted renewable power portfolio throughout 24 nations thus far. We’re bringing extra carbon-free electrical energy onto the grids the place we function, and we proceed to advocate for the growth of unpolluted power options all over the world. A key element of our water constructive objective is to replenish extra water than we eat throughout our international operations. We’ve grown our replenishment portfolio to 90 initiatives in over 40 areas all over the world. We exceeded our land safety objective, with 15,849 acres of protected land and surpassed our preliminary goal of 11,000 acres by greater than 40%.
Microsoft continues to judge and diligently work to deal with sustainability and useful resource wants related to infrastructure development at each international and native degree.
These efforts, and Microsoft’s further funding in cloud and AI infrastructure and digital skilling spotlight the corporate’s long-standing partnership with South Africa and dedication to boosting financial development and resilience by fostering digital abilities and employment alternatives.
Picture: Microsoft Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith with the Honourable President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa
