Cassava Technologies expands Africa’s cloud resilience with Microsoft Azure milestone

Zimbabwe’s richest man and only billionaire, Strive Masiyiwa, is making a bold move through his pan-African technology company, Cassava Technologies. The company has expanded Africa’s cloud resilience capabilities after its subsidiary, Africa Data Centres, was designated a Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Metro peering location in Johannesburg, marking a significant milestone for the continent’s digital infrastructure and cloud ecosystem.

Africa cloud resilience gets major boost

The development reinforces Cassava Technologies’ role as a key enabler of secure, resilient, and high-performance digital services across Africa, as demand for cloud computing and AI-driven solutions continues to accelerate across the region.

The designation enables Liquid C2, Cassava’s cloud and cybersecurity arm, to deliver its Secure CloudConnect solution. Leveraging its unique on-net presence across both peering locations in Johannesburg, the service combines resilient private cloud connectivity with integrated cybersecurity solutions, offering organisations a secure and reliable pathway to Microsoft Azure.

Johannesburg emerges as cloud infrastructure hub

Ziaad Suleman, Senior Vice President South Africa and Botswana, described the milestone as a defining moment for both Africa Data Centres and the continent’s digital ecosystem. He noted that the integration of infrastructure and cybersecurity capabilities under Cassava’s “One Cassava” model provides organisations with a trusted digital foundation to accelerate innovation and growth.

Johannesburg’s designation as Africa’s first ExpressRoute Metro location places it among a select group of global technology hubs offering advanced cloud resilience. Africa Data Centres’ JHB1 facility now serves as the second peering site within the metro, enabling ExpressRoute Metro to route a single connection through two locations, thereby ensuring built-in redundancy for mission-critical workloads.

Cassava expands secure enterprise cloud connectivity

The expansion comes at a time when regulators are increasing scrutiny on operational resilience, business continuity, risk management, and data protection. Liquid C2’s Secure CloudConnect addresses these demands by helping organisations minimise disruption risks, strengthen cybersecurity frameworks, and simplify complex cloud environments while meeting compliance requirements.

Vukani Mngxati, CEO of Microsoft South Africa, said the availability of Azure ExpressRoute Metro in Johannesburg enhances the country’s role in shaping the global AI-driven economy. He added that resilient and secure digital infrastructure will enable businesses to scale faster, compete globally, and translate South Africa’s digital ambitions into tangible economic outcomes.

Azure ExpressRoute strengthens digital infrastructure Africa

Cassava Technologies has built a strong ecosystem of businesses, including Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres, Liquid C2, Cassava.ai, and Sasai Fintech, all working toward a digitally connected Africa. Founded by Masiyiwa, whose net worth is estimated at $2.1 billion, the company has positioned itself as a leader in Africa’s AI space.

The milestone underscores a broader strategy to bridge hyperscale infrastructure with managed cloud security services. As enterprises across Africa accelerate digital transformation, the company is positioning itself to deliver the speed, agility, and protection required for businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive global digital economy.