Africa Data Centres (www.AfricaDataCentres.com), a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, has announced it is expanding its CPT1 facility in Cape Town.

This expansion shows the data centre giant adding three new state-of-the-art halls in new areas on the campus and adds another 6MW of IT load, effectively doubling its current capacity. The new expansion was implemented with support from the United States through an up to $300 million loan from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to Africa Data Centres.

According to Hardy Pemhiwa, President&Group CEO of Cassava, “This expansion by Africa Data Centres is in response to the increasing demand for co-location capacity in South Africa. Not only is Cape Town the second largest economy in South Africa, but it is also the de facto software and technology hub in Southern Africa.”

The company is seeing tremendous growth in the data centre market in South Africa generally, as both national and international cloud and IT service providers seek to expand their footprints in the region.

In terms of size, the expansion adds 1000 racks of white space or the space available for customers to lease, although the physical site is significantly larger than that. It is made up of two more colocation data halls and one hyperscale hall.

The additional halls are built in the cutting-edge modular design pioneered by Africa Data Centres, which enables rapid scalability and a modern design that allows the facility to be populated as and when required to suit the needs of the customer.

Pemhiwa says this would not have been possible without the support of the Ministry of ICT, Western Cape Provincial Government and the Western Cape Department of Economic Development. “I would like to acknowledge their ongoing support, as we expand our data centre facilities in South Africa.”

The new halls feature the same cutting-edge security standards and focus on the elements that matter most to clients, including scalability, flexibility, and energy efficiency, to bring world-class, affordable solutions to all its clients in the area. This data centre is highly flexible and designed to accommodate different and evolving customer demands.

Additionally, this data centre boasts hybrid cooling technology capable of handling both air cooling and liquid cooling. Despite its versatility, no compromises were made on efficiency. It is one of the most efficient and sustainable data centres ever built in South Africa. It is powered by renewable energy, boasts a Water Usage Effectiveness of 0 due to no water consumption for the IT infrastructure, and has an impressive Power Usage Effectiveness rating as well.

The Africa Data Centres’ CPT1 facility is at the forefront of pioneering the use of wheeled solar power in the market. This innovation is enabled through a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed in March last year with Distributed Power Africa, part of the Cassava Technologies group. Africa Data Centres is the first company to successfully implement this groundbreaking technology in Africa, marking it the continent’s first project of its kind.

“The introduction of wheeled solar power at the CPT1 facility offers significant benefits to our’ customers, providing a truly sustainable data centre solution. As the demand for data continues to skyrocket across Africa, a continent where power supply is often intermittent, the need for reliable, cost-effective, and green power has never been more critical,” said Finhai Munzara, Interim CEO of Africa Data Centres.

By harnessing renewable energy, he says the CPT1 facility not only ensures consistent power supply but also supports sustainable operations, helping customers achieve their environmental goals. “Our state-of-the-art facility reduces reliance on non-renewable energy sources, setting a new standard for sustainability in the data centre industry.”

Munzara adds that Cape Town is an excellent location for colocation facilities as it is a stone’s throw away from all the submarine cable landing stations. In addition, the Cape Town facility houses the Cape Town Internet Exchange (CINX), which makes multi-region peering more accessible, efficient, and easy to manage. This also facilitates direct connections between networks, enabling data to flow more efficiently and reducing latency, giving our users a faster, more responsive online experience.

In ending, Munzara says the expansion increases the capacity of the company’s data centres in South Africa and it is an integral part of its investment plans to deliver several additional data facilities across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Data Centres.

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About Africa Data Centres: 
Africa Data Centres owns and operates Africa’s largest network of interconnected, carrier and cloud-neutral data centre facilities. Bringing international experts to the pan-African market, Africa Data Centres is a trusted partner for rapid and secure data centre services and interconnections across Africa. Strategically located in South, East and West Africa our world-class data centre facilities provide a home for all business-critical data for Africa’s small, medium and large enterprises and global hyper scale customers. https://www.AfricaDataCentres.com/

The 6th Congress of the National Council of Eritrean-Americans was enthusiastically inaugurated in Washington under the theme “Strengthening Eritrean Values for International Relations.”

The congress, attended by over 500 nationals, saw Ms. Lewam Debru, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, and Ms. Hadinet Keleta, Head of Public and Community Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy, outline the objectives and agenda of the event.

Mr. Berhane Gebrehiwet, Charge d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy, highlighted the significance of the congress, noting its timing as Eritrea embarks on a new chapter. He urged participants to leverage public diplomatic activities, emphasizing that Eritrea’s core values and independent political stance are key tools for fostering cooperation and relationships.

Mr. Berhane also stressed the importance of a strong organization, which he said reflects the civility and modesty of a robust society. He encouraged attendees to leave the congress with significant recommendations and resolutions focused on strengthening the organization, national values, and broad participation of nationals.

The congress featured detailed activity reports from the PFDJ, YPFDJ, the National Union of Eritrean Women, Hidri organizations in the US, and YPFDJ representatives from Europe. These reports were followed by in-depth discussions among participants.

Friends of Eritrea expressed their high regard for their relationship with the Eritrean community and highlighted Eritrea’s growing influence and acceptance on the global stage.

The congress is set to continue until 26 July.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

UN Tourism has launched a guide on sustainable tourism development in Zambia that identifies key sectors for investment. Titled “Tourism Doing Business—Investing in Zambia,” the guide aims to boost economic growth nationwide.

Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of UN Tourism, stated, “This publication will lead to greater prosperity, job creation, community empowerment, and SME expansion in Zambia. It offers a comprehensive overview of Zambia’s economic, political, and social landscape, highlighting the vast opportunities within Zambia’s tourism industry.” 

Rodney Simbuka, Minister of Tourism of Zambia, said: “Investment in tourism is pivotal not only for sustainable development, economic growth, job creation but also the preservation of our rich cultural heritage and the conservation of our natural resources creating opportunities for the local communities.” 

Stability and Growth in Zambia 

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Zambia’s economic outlook is promising, with projected growth rates of 4.3% in 2023, 4.7% in 2024, and 4.8% in 2025. Zambia has maintained a steady growth rate of 3.2% over the past decade, demonstrating economic stability that exceeds the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 3.0%. 

Reasons to Invest in Zambia 

“Tourism Doing Business—Investing in Zambia,” outlines the opportunities for international investors, emphasizing:  

Zambia’s biodiversity and natural resources make it an attractive destination for investors, with 30% of its land (22.4 million hectares) dedicated to 20 national parks and green spaces. 
Zambia shares borders with eight other countries. The location of this landlocked nation, along with its cultural diversity, with more than 70 ethnolinguistic groups, are a few of its many merits. 
Zambia has been ranked the 7th Best Country to do Business out of 54 African nations and the 1st for Ease of Obtaining Credit in Africa after celebrating 60 years of peace and stability. 
Zambia offers attractive investment incentives, with 16 investment promotion and protection agreements currently in place. 

Investing in Tourism  

Avenues for investment in Zambia, such as the tourism sector, startups, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), are attracting attention. Zambia has made its mark on the global investment arena with an average of USD 969.7 million in FDI receipts over the past decade. Zambia’s economic resilience, emphasis on tourism education, tax incentives, and efficient business setup processes make it a noteworthy prospect for investors.  

The services sector contributes to almost 58% to the Zambian economy and employs 33% of the country’s workforce. Fostering an investor-friendly climate facilitates well-informed decision-making, enabling stakeholders to maximize Zambia’s strengths and actively contribute to sustainable development initiatives. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Sudan’s capital Khartoum is at risk of famine, with over 90,000 people facing catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC5) – meaning they are unable to access enough food to survive and are at risk of starvation. Gaining consistent access to people in Khartoum is an urgent priority for WFP’s scale-up plan.

To that end, the World Food Programme (WFP) has teamed up with Khartoum’s grassroots community kitchens – combining our scale with their access to people in need and local knowledge – to provide daily hot meals. 

These neighbourhood initiatives have been a lifeline for communities since the start of the conflict, but they have struggled to receive consistent funding and keep pace with the soaring needs. That WFP is now stepping in to support their vital work reflects our broader commitment to assisting local partners and grassroots initiatives – and how we adapt our work to ensure the most effective delivery of food assistance. 

WFP has had intermittent access to Khartoum since the war broke out nearly 16 months ago. We last distributed food assistance in the greater metropolitan area in April 2024, providing a two-month ration to families in Omdurman and Karari. To turn the devastating tide of hunger in the once-vibrant Sudanese capital, WFP urgently calls on the warring parties to facilitate predictable and sustained access to Khartoum.

Key updates from WFP’s operations in Khartoum

Supporting Khartoum’s community kitchens

WFP is supporting Khartoum’s community kitchens – known as Emergency Response Rooms – by working with local NGOs who are involved in buying food, and preparing and distributing the meals. The first WFP-supported hot meals should be served this week.

Over the coming weeks, WFP will support 71,000 meals daily via 110 community kitchens in Bahri, Jebel Awlia and Khartoum. That assistance will eventually expand to 100,000 meals daily, cooked in 138 kitchens.

Testing digital cash transfers and self-registration

WFP is testing the provision of food assistance through digital cash transfers to families in Sharg al Neil, Bahri, Khartoum and Ombada – areas in Khartoum State we have been unable to safely reach through our usual mechanisms. Earlier this month (9 July), we launched seven days of online self-registration for targeted people to express their interest. 

We received an overwhelming response. The registration data is being analysed. WFP will pilot the use of digital cash transfers to a small number of families, and may expand this approach based on the results.

Self-registration in humanitarian assistance is a new concept. So far, WFP has successfully used it in Egypt (to support Sudanese war refugees), and in Ukraine and Moldova, and we are currently using it in Gaza.

Delivering food assistance to Khartoum

After a month waiting for safe-passage guarantees, 25 trucks carrying more than 1,200 metric tons of food assistance and nutrition supplements have finally reached Khartoum. The assistance will be distributed in July to 100,000 people in Karrari and Omdurman, covering their food needs for two months. A total of 50,000 children and mothers in Greater Khartoum will also receive nutritional supplements. 

Spotlight: Reaching hunger hotspots in South Kordofan State

WFP successfully distributed more than 3,000 metric tons of critical food assistance to 120,000 internally displaced people in the eastern part of South Kordofan State. We also transported more than 300 metric tons of food assistance to the South Kordofan city of Al Abbassiya, while another 45 metric tons are in transit. Together, these are significant milestones in successfully delivering aid across conflict frontlines to reach the state’s hunger hotspots.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).