Is China Investing $10 Billion In Silicon Valley-Like Project In South Africa?

Kingsley Okon 

On September 10, 2025, an X user @Joe_Bassey claimed that China will invest $10 billion in South Africa’s economy to build BRICS’ largest Silicon Valley in Africa. This was posted with a graphic showing China’s President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and India President Shri Narendra Modi, and the inscription “China to Invest $10 Billion in South Africa's Economy to Build BRICS' Largest Silicon Valley in Africa”. 

As of when this report was published, the claim had about 20,500 views and over 1,900 replies, reposts, quotes, likes and bookmarks. In the comment section, @JackPhakathi1 said “China to colonise South Africa with a loan of $10bn you should say” and @PatriotDave51 wrote, “China, the same country that works with the Congo to enslave Africans in mining cities. Good choice!”.

VERIFICATION

In July 2018, China pledged about $14 billion in investments across multiple sectors in South Africa, including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and technology.

In August 2023, the South African government and the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, signed two agreements to facilitate funding for investment and industrial development at the BRICS Manufacturing Forum at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand today. The agreements were between the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and the China Africa Development Fund (CADF), as well as between the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, and the Bank of China.

While the South African government got a pledge and signed an MoU with China there has been no mention of $10 billion dedicated to building a Silicon Valley.  NV-A reviewed BRICS, South Africa Government and China Government websites and found no evidence or statement to confirm a dedicated $10 billion BRICS Silicon Valley project.

CONCLUSION

The claim that BRICS is building a silicon valley in South Africa is MISLEADING. While Chinese firms have committed over $10 billion to South Africa’s Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Limpopo, these projects focus on industrial development such as power plants, steel, and green manufacturing and not on building a “BRICS Silicon Valley.”