CSOs 4 Tailings Justice

Submission to the South African Human Rights Commission by Data-Centres, Surveillance, Control Working Group – Johannesburg, 30 July 2026

“A more viable, scientifically grounded alternative exists: distributed, scaled-down data
centre infrastructure that prioritises resource sovereignty, community benefit, environmental
sustainability, and agricultural protection over brute-force extraction. It is our contention
that through the establishment of regulatory standards that mandate distributed
infrastructure, comprehensive human rights impact assessments, and community consent,
South Africa can protect both constitutional rights and the environment. We should not be
misguided by the tyranny of market forces. We must choose digital infrastructure that is in
the service of our people and our planet.” — Download the report here