Google has pledged to help create 300,000 jobs in South Africa through its investment in data centre infrastructure in Johannesburg, part of a wider R18 billion commitment to Africa. The tech giant estimates this move will contribute a staggering R1.7 trillion to the South African economy by 2030.
Tara Brady, Google’s President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, made the announcement at the launch of the Johannesburg cloud region, highlighting South Africa’s potential to become an artificial intelligence (AI) leader.
“With the right investment in training, South Africa can leapfrog many countries and establish itself as a powerhouse in AI,” Brady stated.
He also emphasised that the country’s high unemployment rate presents a unique opportunity. South Africa’s official unemployment rate stands at 31.9%, with youth unemployment soaring to 44.6%, according to Statistics South Africa’s latest labour force survey for Q4 2024.
“When you have such high unemployment, it means we can put people to work in a way that isn’t possible in other regions,” Brady added. “If South Africa is ready, we are prepared to invest in AI together.”
Google’s commitment to Africa was first announced by CEO Sundar Pichai in 2021, with a $1 billion (R18 billion) investment over five years to drive digital transformation across the continent.
Brady confirmed that while a significant portion of this investment is dedicated to cloud infrastructure, Google is also focused on equipping Africans with digital skills and supporting local tech startups.
South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, echoed the importance of digital skills in a prerecorded message.
“We know that infrastructure alone is not enough. True digital transformation requires that all South Africans have access to the tools and, most importantly, the skills to participate meaningfully in the digital economy,” Malatsi said.
As South Africa seeks solutions to its unemployment crisis, Google’s investment could provide a much-needed boost, equipping the workforce with future-ready skills and opening doors to new opportunities in the digital age.