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Africa Data Centres reveals continent’s largest-

ever data centre expansion plan

frica Data Centres has announced plans Growth
Ato build large hyperscale data centres “This commitment to Africa, through the
throughout Africa, including the North African continuous deployment of capital-intensive
countries of Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. The infrastructure projects, has pivotal knock-on
project will involve building 10 hyperscale data effects for the communities and economies
centres, in 10 countries, over the next two we serve. All our data centres are world-class
years – at a cost of more than US$500m. It is – built to the same, global standard and offer
being funded through new equity and facilities a reliable, resilient, secure and interconnected
from leading development finance institutions base. “This allows multinational organisations
and multilateral organisations. to confidently enter the market, knowing
Africa Data Centres CEO, Stephane Duproz, their future growth is assured and they have
explains that the finance for the roll-out has access to open carrier systems to the rest of
been provided by equity and loans to Africa the continent. Additionally, without access to
Data Centres’ parent company, Liquid Intelligent always-on, high-speed data centre facilities, the
Technologies, to fully fund the expansion. “We private sector cannot compete globally and will
have already begun to acquire land in these see slowed growth locally; equally important is Furthermore, we guarantee carrier-neutrality
countries and plan to roll-out very quickly. This the impact IT services have on the public sector – meaning our tenants benefit from
is just the beginning for us.” – from healthcare to transport infrastructure.” competition, redundancy and reliability. And,
The expansion will more than double perhaps most importantly, is our commitment
Africa Data Centres’ already significant footprint Sustainable, pan-African, neutral, to sustainable, clean builds. We invest heavily
on the continent. “Examining Africa’s growth interconnected in innovative grey-water systems, waste
trajectory has allowed us to make investment “We are Africa’s largest network of data disposal and renewable energy sources,
decisions on new locations and confidently centres – and we are growing perpetually. ensuring our carbon footprint is drastically
commit to expanding selected existing All of our facilities across the continent will reduced, our reliability is uncontested and
locations, resulting in the largest investment of remain interconnected, allowing our tenants while building economies, we’re aiding the
its kind in history”. to take advantage of our vast footprint. environment”, says Duproz.
No mask? No job. You can be fired for refusing to wear PPE

here is little doubt that the cracks around COVID-19 are starting to
Tshow. From rapid lockdown regulations to hybrid models of working,
organisations have been juggling changing rules and safety protocols for
nearly two years. As employees become increasingly restless and frustrated
with the limitations of masks and regulations, it’s becoming more complex
to manage their rights versus those of the company and other employees.
However, as Nicol Myburgh, Head: HCM Business Unit at CRS Technologies
points out, refusing to wear a mask can be a dismissible offence as it puts
the health and safety of the company and its people at risk.
“Each and every company has to write policies that dictate their
approaches to health and safety and to employee management,” says Wearing a mask at work is not necessarily a violation of your personal
Myburgh. “These now include all the COVID-19 policies that companies rights, it could be mandated policy and a firing offence if not followed.
have to put in place and wearing a mask should be included as this is
mandated by government.” Most incidents where someone has forgotten to put on a mask, or
Mask wearing forms part of the Disaster Management Act that clearly isn’t wearing one in an isolated office, can be ignored and are rarely seen
outlines that they need to be worn the entire time at work, even if a person as a dismissible offence. However, if someone refuses to put on the mask,
is isolated in their own office. This is why it is mandated within company particularly in a high-density area, then this is a different situation. In the
policy as well and constitutes a firing offence if a person refuses to abide by first incidence, a minor negligence of forgetting to put on a mask can be
the rules. ignored and the person warned. The second situation, not so much.
“It’s a health and safety concern – it falls under numerous Acts, “You can absolutely dismiss someone for refusing to put on a mask, but
including Occupational Health and Safety,” says Myburgh. “Companies you have to make sure that you are consistent,” concludes Myburgh. “You
are expected to provide and maintain a safe workplace, so if someone can’t dismiss one person for this infraction and then let another one off the
is walking around without a mask, they are putting both company and hook. Consistency is key. But ultimately, wearing a mask is now an essential
other employees at risk. The challenge lies in how a company takes health and safety protocol for companies adopting hybrid or on-site
action, and when.” working models and should be upheld by company and employee.”

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