Visa Launches First Africa Data Centre In Johannesburg
Visa has officially opened its first data centre in Africa, located in Johannesburg. This facility is part of a 1 billion rand (USD 57 million) investment in South Africa over the next three years, part of a broader USD 1 billion commitment to the continent, announced in 2022.
Speaking at the launch, Michael Berner, Visa’s head of Southern and East Africa, said, “Visa continues to be very committed to the growth of the economy on the continent and building the data centre, which is frankly one of very few that are built outside of our core locations, which are the US, the UK and Singapore, is evidence of this commitment”
Visa has chosen South Africa for its new data centre, citing the country’s leadership in digital payments. More than 60 percent of in-store transactions are now contactless, a trend that reflects the region’s push toward modern financial systems.
“For us at Visa, this is more than infrastructure it’s an investment in people, potential, and partnerships,” said Lineshree Moodley, Country Manager for Visa South Africa. “By enabling communities to participate more fully in the digital economy, we’re helping build a more inclusive and connected future.”
Currently, VisaNet, the company’s global network, handles over 100 billion transactions annually across more than 200 countries. Hosting part of this network locally promises faster settlement times, stronger reliability, and a seamless payments experience that better reflects the cadence of African commerce.
Meanwhile, the broader story echoes across the continent. The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation has already poured USD 100 million into Raxio Group to establish data centres from Ethiopia to Angola recognizing that less than 1 percent of global data centre capacity is currently in Africa.
Africa’s digital payments ecosystem is on track to reach USD 1.5 trillion by 2030, fueled by rapidly expanding internet access and growing financial inclusion. Hosting payment systems locally will accelerate speed, boost trust, and strengthen scalability, giving the region’s fintech sector the infrastructure it needs to flourish.
Johannesburg, along with emerging hubs like Nairobi and Lagos, are becoming vital nodes of digital infrastructure across Africa. The facility complements a rapidly growing data centre landscape in South Africa, with global players such as Vantage, Africa Data Centres, Teraco, NTT, and Equinix expanding their networks. Johannesburg already ranks among the world’s top emerging data centre markets, thanks to reliable power, fibre connectivity, and strategic urban planning.
