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South Africa's provinces

South Africa has nine provinces, each with its own legislature, premier and executive councils. The provinces, with their own distinctive landscapes, vegetation and climate, are:

• Eastern Cape
• Free State
• Gauteng
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Limpopo
• Mpumalanga
• Northern Cape
• North West
• Western Cape

Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape, lying on the south-eastern South African coast, is a region of great natural beauty, particularly the rugged cliffs, rough seas and dense green bush of the stretch known as the Wild Coast. At 168 966 km², the Eastern Cape is roughly the size of Uruguay. It is the country's second-largest province after the Northern Cape, taking up 13,8% of South Africa's land area.

The region boasts remarkable natural diversity, ranging from the dry, desolate Great Karoo to the lush forests of the Wild Coast and the Keiskamma Valley; the fertile Langkloof, renowned for its rich apple harvests; and the mountainous southern Drakensberg region at Elliot.

The province is serviced by airports at Port Elizabeth, East London, Mthatha and Bhisho.

In the Eastern Cape, various floral habitats meet. Along the coast, the northern tropical forests intermingle with the more temperate woods of the south.

The province has a number of Higher Education institutions, including the:

• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
• University of Fort Hare
• Walter Sisulu University of Technology.

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The people

The Eastern Cape has a population of approximately 6,5 million people, the majority of whom speak isiXhosa, followed by Afrikaans and English.

Agriculture

Agriculture is important in the Eastern Cape. The fertile Langkloof Valley in the south-west has enormous deciduous fruit orchards, while sheep farming predominates in the Karoo.

The Alexandria-Grahamstown area produces pineapples, chicory and dairy products, while coffee and tea are cultivated at Magwa. People in the former Transkei region are dependent on cattle, maize and sorghum farming. An olive nursery has been developed in collaboration with the University of Fort Hare to form a nucleus of olive production in the Eastern Cape.

Forestry

There is excellent potential for forestry – the coastal areas receive good summer rainfall and have a moderate climate, becoming more subtropical to the north-west. The Tsitsikamma National Park on the southern border is home to dense indigenous forests.

Fishing

The basis of the province's fishing industry is squid, some recreational and commercial fishing for line fish, the collection of marine resources, and access to line-catches of hake.

Industry

With two harbours and four airports offering direct flights to the main centres and an excellent road and rail infrastructure, the province has been earmarked as a key area for growth and economic development.

The Provincial Industrial Development Strategy identified the sectors that can create jobs and diversify the economy. These are aligned with the sectors that are being prioritised by government and include the following:

• automotive and components sector, in which the province has had significant new investments in recent years
• renewables and the green industries
• agriculture and agroprocessing
• forestry and timber processing
• pharmaceuticals
• plastics and petrochemicals
• capital goods
• tourism.

The East London Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) has attracted new investments, which will provide approximately 600 direct and more than 1 000 indirect jobs. The Coega IDZ has also secured, among other things, the Cape Concentrates Tomato Paste Project, which will create 180 direct jobs and 3 000 jobs on farms.

New investments have also been made in the auto and components sector. Daimler AG has awarded sole rights to Daimler Benz to produce the new C-Class model, the W205. The investment of R2 billion will result in the creation of 2 000 jobs during the training and preparation phase.

During 2011, government and state-owned enterprises supported key strategic projects in the province, which included the Umthombo PetroSA Project in the Coega IDZ, Emalahleni Coal in Lady Frere, Langa Solar PV Park in Berlin, East London, and the Gehrlicher-Ikhwezi Pilot PV Park in the East London IDZ.

Unemployment started to decrease from 30% in 2009 to 27,2% at the end of 2010. Critical interventions that enabled this decrease include the Expanded Public Works Programme through which 72 339 job opportunities were created by 2011, far above the target of 68 591 jobs. Of these, 28 089 jobs benefited young people, while
28 336 women and 424 people with disabilities benefited.

This was a total of over 180 000 jobs between 2009 and 2010 against the target of 132 786, with the infrastructure and "non-state" being the top two performing sectors.

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Free State

The Free State, a province of wide horizons and blue skies, farmland, mountains, goldfields and widely dispersed towns, lies in the heart of South Africa, with Lesotho nestling in the hollow of its bean-like shape. Between the Vaal River in the north and the Orange River in the south, this immense rolling prairie stretches as far as the eye
can see.

In May 2011, Manguang, comprising Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu, became South Africa's newest metropolitan authority. It has an established institutional, educational and administrative infrastructure, and houses the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Important towns include Welkom, the heart of the goldfields and one of the few completely preplanned cities in the world; Odendaalsrus, another gold-mining town; Sasolburg, which owes its existence to the petrol-from-coal installation established there; Kroonstad, an important agricultural, administrative and educational centre; Parys, on the banks of the Vaal River; Phuthaditjhaba, well known for the beautiful handcrafted items produced by the local people; and Bethlehem, gateway to the Eastern Highlands of the Free State.

The N1, which is the artery between Gauteng and the Western and Eastern Cape, passes through the middle of the Free State.

Some of South Africa's most valued San rock art can be found in the Free State. Other key tourism attractions include the annual air show in Bethlehem, the Cherry Festival in Ficksburg, the Phakisa-Nascar event in Welkom, and the Fauresmith International Endurence Ride equestrian event.

The annual Mangaung African Cultural Festival, popularly called Macufe, is hosted in partnership with the Free State Tourism Authority and the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State.

The Vredefort Dome, 10 km in diameter, about 100 km south-west of Johannesburg, was voted South Africa's seventh World Heritage Site in 2005.

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The people

According to the Mid-year population estimates, 2011, there are more than 2,7 million people in the Free State on about 129 480 km² of land. The main languages spoken are Sesotho and Afrikaans.

Agriculture

with cultivated land covering 32 000 km² and natural veld and grazing a further 87 000 km² of the province.

Field crops yield almost two thirds of the gross agricultural income of the province. Animal products contribute a further 30%, with the balance generated by horticulture.

The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme seeks to support smallholder farmers – both subsistence and commercial – as well as the beneficiaries of land-reform programmes. To this end, the Free State received R102,9 million in 2011 from government.

The Free State is a summer rainfall region that can be extremely cold during winter, especially towards the eastern mountainous regions. The western and southern areas are semi-desert.

Known as the "bread basket" of South Africa, about 90% of the province is under cultivation for crop production. It produces about 45% of the country's sunflower crop, 34% of the total maize crop, 37% of wheat, 53% of sorghum, 33% of potatoes, and almost all of its cherries (90%). Red meat and dairy are also important products and game hunting is a fast-growing industry.

Mining

Mining is the Free State's major employer. A gold reef over 400 km long stretches across Gauteng and the Free State. South Africa is the world's largest gold producer, and the country's largest gold-mining complex is Free State Consolidated Goldfields, with an area of 330 km2.

The province has 12 gold mines, producing 30% of South Africa's output and making it the fifth-largest producer of gold in the world. Gold mines in the Free State also supply a substantial portion of the total silver produced in the country.

Uranium occurring in the gold-bearing conglomerates of the goldfields is extracted as a by-product.

Bituminous coal is mined and converted to petrochemicals at Sasolburg.

The Free State also produces high-quality diamonds from its kimberlite pipes and fissures, and the country's largest deposit of bentonite is found in the Koppies district.

Manufacturing and industry

The Free State economy is changing. Where before it was very reliant on primary sectors such as agriculture and mining, it is increasingly growing its manufacturing sector, which now accounts for 14% of the provincial gross domestic product
(GDP).

The most important manufacturing subsectors, besides chemicals, are food and beverages, textiles, furniture, agriprocessing, jewellery and engineering products.

Nearly 20% of the province's manufacturing sites are devoted to food and beverages.

In 2011, the Provincial Government announced the establishment of three manufacturing facilities designed to create jobs:

• a tyre-recycling plant in Sasolburg
• a potato-chip plant in Industriqwa in QwaQwa
• a Kraft paper plant in Frankfort.

In 2011, the Free State Development Corporation was active in attracting new investments and signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Africa-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce with the aim of increasing bilateral trade.

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Gauteng

Gauteng is the economic centre of South Africa and the continent, responsible for over 34,8% of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP). Although it is the smallest of the nine provinces, Gauteng is the financial-services capital of Africa.

Financial and business services, logistics, manufacturing, property, telecommunications and trade are some of the province's most important economic sectors.

Most overseas visitors enter South Africa via OR Tambo International Airport.

Johannesburg, nicknamed “Egoli” (Place of Gold), is the capital of the province and a city of contrasts. South of Johannesburg is Soweto, developed as a township for black people under the apartheid system.

Some 50 km north of Johannesburg lies Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa and home to the Union Buildings. From the latter half of 2011, the Gautrain started to carry passengers between Johannesburg and Pretoria - stress-free and in less than 40 minutes.

The industrial area of Rosslyn and the townships of Soshanguve and GaRankuwa are situated north of Pretoria. Mamelodi and Cullinan, known for its diamonds, lies to the east. To the west lies Atteridgeville.

Other important Gauteng towns include Krugersdorp and Roodepoort on the West Rand, and Germiston, Springs, Boksburg, Benoni, Brakpan and Kempton Park on the East Rand.

Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging in the south of the province are major industrial centres, while Heidelberg, Nigel and Bronkhorstspruit to the east are of agricultural importance.

The province houses some of the most important educational and health centres in the country. Pretoria boasts the largest residential university in South Africa, the University of Pretoria, and what is believed to be the largest correspondence university in the world, Unisa. Other universities include:

• University of the Witwatersrand
• University of Johannesburg
• the Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa).

There are also several teacher-training colleges, technical colleges and universities of technology in the province.

In addition, Gauteng is home to leading research institutions such as the:

• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
• Agricultural Research Council
• Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute
• Human Sciences Research Council.

More than 60% of South Africa’s research and development (R&D) takes place in Gauteng.

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The people

More than 11 million people live in Gauteng. The people of Gauteng have the highest per-capita income level in the country. The province blends cultures, colours and first- and third-world traditions in a spirited mix, flavoured by a number of foreign influences.

Mining and manufacturing

Manufacturing includes basic iron and steel, fabricated and metal products, food, machinery, electrical machinery, appliances and electrical supplies, vehicle parts and accessories, and chemical products.

The major gold and diamond mining houses all have their headquarters in Johannesburg, the biggest being Anglo American and De Beers.

There are 159 mines – 44 of them gold mines – in Gauteng, that together account for a quarter of South Africa's total mineral production. Most of the mining is for gold – 80% of Gauteng's output.

Although gold mining and ancillary industries provide thousands of jobs, the importance of mining is declining compared to the manufacturing and financial sectors. Mining produces only 6% of Gauteng's total income and 31% of export earnings.

Technology

More than 60% of South Africa's research and development takes place in Gauteng.

The Innovation Hub in Pretoria is Africa’s first internationally accredited science park and a full member of the International Association of Science Parks. Its community has become a regional centre of innovation and knowledge creation, linked to the fast moving world of global interconnectivity. It is made up of small. medium and micro enterprises and multinational companies, employing in excess of 1 000 people.

Linked to the building of the broadband network infrastructure is a multifaceted information and communications technology (ICT) strategy that the Department of Communications plans to roll out. Key to the strategy is the establishment of a "Gauteng Silicon" to be modelled on Silicon Valley in the United States of America. The Gauteng Silicon will be attached to the Innovation Hub and will drive a structured programme of information technology business incubation; start-up business support; and ICT skills training with a focus on software development, design, and innovation in ICT.

Agriculture and industry

A large area of the province falls within the so-called “Maize Triangle”. Gauteng is an integrated industrial complex with major areas of economic activity in three sub-regional areas, namely the Vaal Triangle; the East, West and Central Rand; and Pretoria.

Over the next three years, the Gauteng Provincial Government plans to spend R34 billion on infrastructure development to boost the province's industrial activity.

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KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal is one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations. This verdant region includes South Africa’s lush subtropical east coast. Washed by the warm Indian Ocean, it stretches from Port Edward in the south, and northwards to the Mozambique boundary.

In addition to the magnificent coastline, the province also boasts sweeping savanna in the east, and the majestic Drakensberg mountain range in the west.

Visitors to KwaZulu-Natal can either disembark at King Shaka International Airport, which handles more than 2,5 million passengers a year, or at Durban harbour. Alternatively, they can make use of the extensive national road network.

The ports of Durban and Richards Bay are some of the busiest in South Africa. Richards Bay is an important coal-export harbour.

The province is also well known for its active conservation activities. There are several reserves in the province such as the Royal Natal National Park, Giant’s Castle and the Kamberg Nature Reserve.

The province boasts several universities of technology, universities and other educational institutions, including the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Durban Institute of Technology.

KwaZulu-Natal is the only province with a monarchy specifically provided for in the Constitution.

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The people

KwaZulu-Natal has more than 10 million people living on 94 361 km² of land (Census 2011). The principal language spoken is isiZulu, followed by English and Afrikaans.

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Industry and agriculture

Richards Bay is the centre of operations for South Africa's aluminium industry. An amount of R56,9 million was set aside in 2010 to help the Richards Bay IDZ fulfil its strategic mandate of positioning the town as a preferred investment location with unparallelled opportunities enhanced by the strategic business location. With the Richards Bay IDZ having been granted an operator's permit, it is expected that investors will seize the opportunities it offers.

The Richards Bay Coal Terminal is instrumental in securing the country's position as the world's second-largest exporter of steam coal.

Richards Bay Minerals is the largest sand-mining and mineral-processing operation in the world.

The province has undergone rapid industrialisation owing to its abundant water supply and labour resources.

Industries are also found at Newcastle, Ladysmith, Dundee, Durban, Hammarsdale, Richmond, Pietermaritzburg and Mandeni.

The sugar-cane plantations along the Indian Ocean coastal belt form the mainstay of the economy and agriculture of the region.

The coastal belt is also a large producer of subtropical fruit, while the farmers in the hinterland concentrate on vegetables, dairy and stock farming.

Another major source of income is forestry in the areas around Vryheid, Eshowe, Richmond, Harding and Ngome, which is also known for its tea plantations.

The summer-rainfall coastal regions of this province are hot and humid with a subtropical climate.

The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands between the coastal strip and the southern Drakensberg escarpment is drier, with extremely cold conditions in winter and snow on the highlying
ground.

In the north, the subtropical strip extends around Swaziland to the edge of the escarpment.

Limpopo

Limpopo, South Africa's northernmost province, borders onto Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana, making it the ideal gateway to Africa. Named after the Limpopo River that flows along its northern border, the province is rich in wildlife, spectacular scenery and a wealth of historical and cultural treasures.

The province is linked to the Maputo Development Corridor through the Phalaborwa
SDI, which is a network of rail and road corridors connecting to the major seaports, opening up Limpopo for trade and investment. This is complemented by the presence of smaller airports in centres such as Phalaborwa and Musina, as well as the Gateway International Airport in Polokwane, the capital city, which lies strategically in the centre of the province.

The Great North Road, running through the centre of the province, strings together a series of interesting towns such as Bela-Bela, with its popular mineral spa; Modimolle with its beautiful Waterberg mountain range; Mokopane; Polokwane; Makhado at the foot of the Soutpansberg mountain range; and Musina, with its thick-set baobab trees. The crossing into Zimbabwe is at Beit Bridge.

Other important Limpopo towns include the major mining centres of Phalaborwa and Thabazimbi; and Tzaneen, producer of tea, forestry products and tropical fruits.

This province is in the Savanna Biome, an area of mixed grassland and trees, which is generally known as bushveld. The province's natural resources include more than 50 provincial nature reserves, as well as several private game reserves. The largest section of the Kruger National Park is situated along the eastern boundary of Limpopo with Mozambique.

Several museums and national monuments bear testimony to the ancient people and fearless pioneers who braved the unknown. Living museums include:

• the Bakone Malapa Museum near Polokwane, where Bapedi tribespeople practise age-old skills for the benefit of visitors
• the Tsonga Open-Air Museum near Tzaneen
• Mapungubwe ("Place of The Jackal") Hill, some 75 km from Musina, a world heritage site. It served as a natural fortress for its inhabitants from about 950 to 1200 AD.

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The people

According to the Mid-year population estimates, 2011, about 5,4 million people live on about 125 754 km² of land in Limpopo.

Agriculture

In terms of agriculture, Limpopo could be described as the garden of South Africa, or even that of the whole continent, given its rich fruit and vegetable production.

It produces 75% of the country's mangoes; 65% of its papayas; 36% of its tea; 25% of its citrus, bananas, and litchis; 60% of its avocados; two thirds of its tomatoes; and 285 000 tons of potatoes. Other products include coffee, nuts, guavas, sisal, cotton and tobacco.

Over 170 plantations produce timber. In addition, cotton, sunflower, maize, wheat cultivation and grapes are produced.

Most of the higher-lying areas are devoted to cattle and game ranching, earning a reputation for quality biltong (salted, dried meat), which is a popular South African delicacy.

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Industry and mining

Limpopo also has abundant mineral resources, making mining the critical sector of the province's economy by contributing 22% of the gross geographic product.

The platinum group metals include platinum, chromium, nickel, cobalt, vanadium, tin, limestone and uranium clay. Other reserves include antinomy, phosphates, fluorspar, gold, diamonds, copper, emeralds, scheelites, magnetite, vermiculite, silicon, mica, black granite, corundum, feldspar and salt.

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Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga means “Place where the Sun Rises”and people are drawn to the province by its magnificent scenery, fauna and flora, and the fascinating remnants of the 1870 gold-rush era.

With a surface area of only 76 495 km², it is the second-smallest province after Gauteng, yet has the fourth-largest economy in South Africa.

Bordered by Mozambique and Swaziland in the east, and Gauteng in the west, it is situated mainly on the high plateau grasslands of the Middleveld, which roll eastwards for hundreds of kilometres. In the north-east, it rises towards mountain peaks and terminates in an immense escarpment. In some places, this escarpment plunges hundreds of metres down to the low-lying area known as the Lowveld.

The area has a network of excellent roads and railway connections, making it highly accessible. Because of its popularity as a tourist destination, Mpumalanga is also served by a number of small airports, including the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.

Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) is the capital of the province and the administrative and business centre of the Lowveld. Other important towns are Witbank, Standerton, Piet Retief, Malelane, Ermelo, Barberton and Sabie.

Mpumalanga falls mainly within the grassland biome. The escarpment and the Lowveld form a transitional zone between this grassland area and the savanna biome.

The Maputo Corridor, which links the province with Gauteng and Maputo in Mozambique, heralds a new era in terms of economic development and growth for the
region.

The people

Mpumalanga is home to just over 4 million people, according to Stats SA's (Census 2011). The principal languages are siSwati and isiZulu.

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Agriculture

The province is a summer-rainfall area divided by the escarpment into the Highveld region with cold frosty winters, and the Lowveld region with mild winters and a subtropical climate.

The escarpment area sometimes experiences snow on high ground. Thick mist is common during the hot, humid summers.

An abundance of citrus fruit and many other subtropical fruit – mangoes, avocados, litchis, bananas, papayas, granadillas, guavas – as well as nuts and a variety of vegetables are produced here.

Mbombela is the second-largest citrus-producing area in South Africa and is responsible for one third of the country's export in oranges.

The Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops is situated in Mbombela.

Groblersdal is an important irrigation area, which yields a wide variety of products such as citrus fruit, cotton, tobacco, wheat and vegetables. Carolina-Bethal-Ermelo is mainly a sheep-farming area, but potatoes, sunflowers, maize and peanuts are also produced in this region.

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Industry and manufacturing

Most of the manufacturing production in Mpumalanga occurs in the southern Highveld region, especially in the Highveld Ridge where large petrochemical industries such as Sasol II and III are located.

Large-scale manufacturing occurs especially in the northern Highveld area, in particular, chrome alloy and steel manufacturing.

In the Lowveld subregion, industries are concentrated around the manufacturing of products from agricultural and raw forestry material. The growth in demand for goods and services for export via Maputo will stimulate manufacturing in the province.

Mpumalanga is very rich in coal reserves. The country’s major power stations, three of which are the biggest in the southern hemisphere, are situated in this province.

One of the country’s largest paper mills is situated at Ngodwana, close to its timber source. Middelburg produces steel and vanadium, while Witbank is the biggest coal producer in Africa.

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Northern Cape

The Northern Cape is the largest province in South Africa. It is slightly bigger than the surface area of Germany – taking up almost a third of the country's total land area.

The Northern Cape lies to the south of its most important asset, the mighty Orange River, which provides the basis for a healthy agricultural industry.

The Northern Cape is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, and Namibia and Botswana to the north-west and north respectively. It is fringed by the Swartberg mountain range on its southern border with the Western Cape in the Calvinia district.

Its major airports are situated at Kimberley and Upington, and the province has an excellent road network, which makes its interior easily accessible from South Africa's major cities, harbours and airports.

Sutherland is host to the southern hemisphere’s largest astronomical observatory, the multinational-sponsored Southern African Large Telescope.

The Northern Cape is one of two sites to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a giant next-generation radio telescope being developed by scientists from 17 countries.

The province has several national parks and conservation areas, namely the:

• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
• Ai-Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park
• Augrabies Falls National Park.

The largest part of the province falls within the Nama-Karoo Biome. The area is known worldwide for its spectacular annual explosion of spring flowers, which attract thousands of tourists. This biome contains a number of fascinating plants, including the elephant's trunk ("halfmens" or half-man), tree aloe ("kokerboom" or quiver tree) and a variety of succulents.

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The people

The Northern Cape is sparsely populated and houses more just over 1,1 million people on 372 889 km² of land (Census 2011).

About 53,8% of the population speak Afrikaans. Other languages spoken are Setswana, isiXhosa and English.

The last remaining true San (Bushman) people live in the Kalahari area of the Northern Cape. The area, especially along the Orange and Vaal rivers, is rich in San rock engravings. A good collection can be seen at the McGregor Museum in Kimberley.

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Agriculture and industry

The economy of a large part of the Northern Cape, the interior Karoo, depends on sheep farming, while the karakul-pelt industry is one of the most important in the Gordonia district of Upington.

The province has fertile agricultural land. In the Orange River Valley, especially at Upington, Kakamas and Keimoes, grapes and fruit are cultivated intensively. Wheat, fruit, peanuts, maize and cotton are produced at the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme near Warrenton.

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Mining

Mining contributes 27,6% to the gross regional domestic product.

Iron-ore mining in the northeastern corner of the province has been expanding despite the global recession, driven largely by a demand for steel from China. Sishen is the biggest iron-ore mine in the country and its owner, Kumba Iron Ore, is engaging in a new project at Kolomela (previously known as South Sishen). New manganese projects are also underway.

Diamond mining, in contrast, has seen volumes and jobs lost. Diamond mining is increasingly moving away from the older mines to alluvial mining along the Orange River and its tributaries and in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Northern Cape also has copper, asbestos, fluorspar, semi-precious stones and marble.

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North West

North West lies in the north of South Africa, on the Botswana border, fringed by the Kalahari desert in the west, Gauteng to the east, and the Free State to the south. It is known as the "Platinum Province" for the wealth of metal it has underground.

Mahikeng (previously Mafeking) is the capital, and best known for the famous siege during the Anglo-Boer/South African War. The city lies near the Botswana border and
forms a single urban area with its neighbouring town, Mmabatho. Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp are the biggest cities in the province; other main towns are Brits and Rustenburg.

Most economic activity is concentrated in the southern region between Potchefstroom
and Klerksdorp, as well as Rustenburg and the eastern region, where more than 83,3% of the province's economic activity takes place.

North West has a number of major tourist attractions, including Sun City and the Palace of the Lost City, the Pilanesberg National Park, Madikwe Game Reserve and the Rustenburg Nature Reserve.

The people

More than 3,5 million people live in the North West. Setswana is spoken by 63,4% of the population.

Mining

Mining contributes 23,3% to the North West's economy, and makes up 22,5% of the South African mining industry as a whole.

The Rustenburg and Brits districts produce 94% of the country's platinum, which is more than any other single area in the world. North West also produces a quarter of South Africa's gold, as well as granite, marble, fluorspar and diamonds.

Employment along the Platinum Corridor, from Pretoria to eastern Botswana, accounts for over a third of total employment in North West.

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Manufacturing

North West aims to achieve the development and growth of a well-coordinated, vibrant, diversified and sustainable economy that will create jobs and eradicate unemployment.

North West's manufacturing sector is centred at the municipalities of Brits, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and Mahikeng, which account for more than 50% of total manufacturing production in the province.

The industries in Brits concentrate on manufacturing and construction, while those in Klerksdorp are geared towards the mining industry, and those at Vryburg and Brits towards agriculture. In the manufacturing arena, automotive parts, electrical machinery, electronic and audio, and medical equipment are manufactured in the province using local material and resources.

Agriculture

Some of the largest cattle herds in the world are found at Stellaland near Vryburg, which explains why this area is often referred to as the "Texas of South Africa". Marico is also cattle country. The areas around Rustenburg and Brits are fertile, mixed-crops farming land. Marico is also cattle country.

The areas around Rustenburg and Brits are fertile, mixed-crops farming land. The province is an important food producer. Maize and sunflowers are the most important crops, with North West as the major producer of white maize in the country.

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Western Cape

The Western Cape’s natural beauty, complemented by its hospitality, cultural diversity, excellent wine and colourful cuisine, make the province one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions.

The cold Atlantic Ocean along the west coast is a rich fishing area, while the warmer Indian Ocean skirts the province’s southern beaches.

The Western Cape lies on the southern tip of Africa. The most southern point is not, as some maps suggest, at Cape Point; it is in fact at Cape Agulhas, some 200 km east of Cape Town.

Cape Town houses Parliament and is the country’s legislative capital. Visitors to the Western Cape can disembark at Cape Town International Airport, George Airport or at the ports of Cape Town, Mossel Bay or Saldanha. A network of roads also leads to Cape Town, fondly known as the “Mother City”.

Covering an area of more than 553 000 hectares (ha), the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site comprises eight separate protected areas stretching from the Cape Peninsula into the Eastern Cape.

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The people

More than 5,8 million people live in the Western Cape on 129 462 km² of land (Census 2011). Afrikaans is spoken by the majority, with isiXhosa and English being the other main languages.

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Agriculture and marine fisheries

Agriculture brings in 40% of all export revenue and employs 200 000 people in the Western Cape.

The Western Cape is rich in agriculture and fisheries. The sheltered valleys between the mountains provide ideal conditions for the cultivation of top-grade fruits, such as apples, table grapes, olives, peaches and oranges.

In the eastern part of the Western Cape, a great variety of vegetables is cultivated. The province can be divided into three climatic regions. The area around the Cape Peninsula and the Boland, further inland, is a winter-rainfall region with sunny, dry summers.

The Western Cape is known as one of the world’s finest grape-growing regions. Many of its wines have received the highest accolades at international shows.

The inland Karoo region (around Beaufort West), and the Overberg district (around Bredasdorp), produce wool and mutton, and pedigree Merino breeding stock.

Other animal products include broiler chickens, eggs, dairy products, beef and pork. The Western Cape is the only province with an outlet for the export of horses. This earns the country millions of rands in foreign revenue.

In addition to meat and fine leatherware, the province is also a leader in the export of ostrich meat to Europe, with its abattoirs turning out R1 billion in export products every year.

The west coast of the province is considered to be one of the world’s richest fishing grounds. It is protected from overfishing by foreign vessels by means of a 200-km commercial fishing zone and a strict quota system.

A local environmental and new-energy technology fund, Inspired Evolution, invested R52,5 million in a Western Cape-based abalone farm, Abagold. The Hermanus farm is the country's largest exporter and international competitor in the hatching, rearing, processing and exporting of local abalone.

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Industry

The Western Cape economy contributes roughly 14,5% to South Africa's GDP, growing at an average of 3,2% a year. More sophisticated sectors such as finance, real estate, ICT, retail and tourism have shown substantial growth, and are the main contributors to the regional economy. The value of residential property has increased significantly.

Many of South Africa's major insurance companies and banks are based in the Western Cape.

Most of the country's petroleum companies and the largest segment of the printing and publishing industry are found in Cape Town.

After Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape's manufacturing sector is the third-largest contributor to the national manufacturing sector. The clothing and textile industry remains the most significant industrial source of employment in the province.

Cape Town remains the economic hub of the province, encompassing industrial areas such as Epping, Montague Gardens, Parow and Retreat.

Source: South Africa Yearbook 2011/12
Editor: Louise van Niekerk. Government Communication and Information System

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Last modified: 07 November 2012 14:08:05.