Visa Inc. has officially inaugurated its first-ever data centre in Africa, located in Johannesburg, marking a key milestone in its R1 billion (USD 57 million) commitment to South Africa over the next three years.
This launch is part of a wider USD 1 billion investment across Africa announced in 2022.
Michael Berner, Visa’s Head of Southern & East Africa, noted that the facility strengthens VisaNet, the company’s payment-processing network that handles over 100 billion annual transactions across more than 200 countries.
He said, “We continue to see Africa as a growth engine and…build infrastructure here to support our growth…and entrepreneurs, SMEs and female leaders,”
The data centre reflects Africa’s surging shift toward digital payments.
In South Africa, more than 60% of face-to-face payments are now contactless, a trend the facility is designed to support.
According to Lineshree Moodley, Visa South Africa Country Manager, this centre will act as a launchpad for solutions to address digital needs across the continent.
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi hailed the initiative as a “vote of confidence” in South Africa’s digital economy.
By localizing infrastructure, Visa aims to boost national financial sovereignty and reduce reliance on overseas systems .
While some details such as the site’s exact size and location remain confidential for security reasons, industry observers suggest this move could catalyse further expansion of critical digital infrastructure across Africa
