Microsoft will invest an additional 5.4B rand in South Africa’s AI and cloud infrastructure, strengthening its Azure presence. The company will fund technical certifications for 50K people to boost local digital skills. This move aligns with Microsoft’s $80B global plan to expand data centers and AI capabilities.
Microsoft has announced an additional investment of 5.4B rand (around $297M) in South Africa’s AI and cloud infrastructure to meet rising demand for Azure services. This follows previous investments of 20.4B rand, which led to the establishment of major data centers in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
As part of the initiative, Microsoft will sponsor certification exams for 50,000 individuals in cloud architecture, AI, and cybersecurity to strengthen the region’s digital workforce and support inclusive technological growth.
Globally, Microsoft plans to invest nearly $80B in data centers during FY2025 to support AI model training and cloud deployments. South Africa is expected to become a major digital hub in Africa through these efforts.