[ Home ] [ About SA ]

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, with its vast natural resources, offers the adventurer and ecotourist a memorable experience.

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.

[Top]

The people

The Eastern Cape has more than 6,7 million people living on 169 580 km² of land. The majority of the people speak isiXhosa, followed by Afrikaans and English.

Agriculture, fishing and forestry

Rural development and agrarian transformation are strategic priorities in the Eastern Cape Provincial Government's approved Provincial Cooperative Strategy to establish as cooperative development fund.

Industry

The Eastern Cape's provincial economy is dominated by the tertiary sector, also known as the service industry. It account for more than 75% of the total economy.

While more than 60% of the province is rural, the primary sector, consisting of extraction such as mining, agriculture, forestry and fishing, contributes less than 3% to the provincial economy.

The metropolitan economies of Port Elizabeth and East London are based primarily on manufacturing, the most important industry being motor manufacturing. The province is the hub of South Africa’s automotive industry.

Several of the world’s biggest motor manufacturers, such as Volkswagen, Ford (Samcor), General Motors (Delta) and DaimlerChrysler, have plants in the Eastern Cape. During 2008/09, the automotive sector in the province attracted investment in excess of R3 billion.

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.

Environmentally friendly projects include the Fish River Spatial Development Initiative (SDI), the Wild Coast SDI, and the East London and Coega industrial development zones (IDZs). Coega, 20 km east of the Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage metropoles, was the first IDZ to be established, and is one of the biggest initiatives ever undertaken in South Africa.

A massive business process outsourcing (BPO) park, which is expected to create employment for about 1 500 people, was opened in the Coega Industrial Development Zone in March 2010. This is the first facility of this kind that was built in the Eastern Cape. The BPO park is about 18 900 m² and cost about R173 million.

The East London IDZ (ELIDZ) launched an innovative multi-Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) model. This model aims to attract and accommodate automotive OEMs which do not currently have a manufacturing presence in South Africa and do not have the volumes to justify an independent manufacturing facility. This project is the first of its kind in South Africa.

The ELIDZ has taken advantage of opportunities emanating from the emergence of renewable energy as a strategic sector. The zone has been identified as the leading contender for the location of the manufacturing of South Africa's first electric vehicle.

The establishment of research and development (R&D) capability was identified as key to growing the provincial economy. ELIDZ and the Walter Sisulu University are in the process of establishing a technoscience park in East London. The science park will be closely linked to the ELIDZ for the practical application of science and technology innovations.

The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs and the Provincial Treasury invested R3 million in this endeavour during the 2009/10 financial year.

[Top]

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.

The capital, Bloemfontein, has a well-established institutional, educational and administrative infrastructure, and houses the Supreme Court of Appeal.

The city is home to some of the province’s many tertiary educational institutions, including the University of the Free State and the Central University of Technology.

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.

[Top]

The people

According to the Mid-year population estimates, 2010, there are more than 2,8 million people in the Free State on about 129 480 km² of land. The main languages spoken are Sesotho and Afrikaans.

Agriculture

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

In the Free State, almost two million ha are used for agricultural production of which 100 000 ha are under irrigation. Known as the "bread basket" of South Africa, about 90% of the province is under cultivation for crop production. It produces about 40%
of South Africa's total maize crop, 50% of wheat, 80% of sorghum, 33% of potatoes, 18% of red meat, 30% of groundnuts and 15% of wool.

Mining

The Free State contributes 14,1% to the country's total mining production, which is the fourth highest among all the provinces in South Africa. The province contributes about a third of the country's gold, which is the most important mining activity. The Free State also has large coal deposits and produces almost 80% of South Africa's bentonite.

Manufacturing and industry

In terms of the province's gross domestic product (GDP), manufacturing is the second most important sector. During the 2010/11 financial year, government planned to consolidate work started in 2009 with the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Industrial Development Corporation and other funding agencies to raise funds for the following programmes: the Harrismith Logistics Hub, the N8 corridor development and the office park in Batho.

[Top]

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. More than 70
foreign banks have their head offices in the province, as do at least the same number of South African banks, stockbrokers and insurance giants.

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

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

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 will carry at least 40 000 passengers hourly 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.

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.

[Top]

The people

Gauteng is the most densely populated province in South Africa. Over 11million of the country’s people (Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2010) live in this province which covers only 1,4% of the country's land area. The level of urbanisation is 97%.

Manufacturing

Mining dominates the western areas while Gauteng is the hub of the country's manufacturing industry, employing about 600 000 people in over 9 000 enterprises.

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

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.

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.

Johannesburg houses the JSE Limited, the largest securities exchange in Africa.

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

[Top]

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 KwaZulu-Natal coastal belt yields sugar cane, wood, oranges, bananas, mangoes and other tropical fruit.

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.

[Top]

The people

KwaZulu-Natal has more than 10 million people living on 92 100 km² of land (Mid-year population estimates, 2010). The principal language spoken is isiZulu, followed by English and Afrikaans.

[Top]

Industry and agriculture

During the last quarter of 2009, KwaZulu-Natal boasted above-average growth of 3,7%. The sectors that contributed to the growth were: manufacturing, which registered 9,5%; mining 67,5%; general government services 6,7%; community, social and other personal services 3,2%; and financial services 1%.

The clothing and textile industry is historically one of the province's biggest employers. However, the impact of the global recession necessitated government to enter into an agreement to reduce bulk imports to provide relief to local business.

The province spent R30 million on implementing the provincial Clothing and Textile Revitalisation Strategy in 2009/10, which resulted in the establishment of 19 hubs around the province to support 414 cooperative members from 141 cooperatives with a R1 543 947 turnover.

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 also 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 AD 950 to 1200.

[Top]

The people

According to the Mid-year population estimates, 2010, about 5,2 million people live on about 123 910 km² of land in Limpopo.

Agriculture

Limpopo produces 43% of the R2 billion annual turnover of the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market. As the largest producers of various crops in the agricultural market, Limpopo contributes 6,7% to the national GDP. The province is exploiting this capacity as a resource for agritourism. For instance, the Modimolle Grape Festival is celebrated in January.

The bushveld is cattle country, where controlled hunting is often combined with ranching. About 80% of South Africa's hunting takes place in this province.

The Limpopo Agricultural Development Strategy adapted the concept to develop agricultural hubs – areas with the greatest potential to increase land availability for agricultural production while enhancing their broader economy. Two of the five hubs identified are Nandoni in the Vhembe District, and Nebo Plateau in the Sekhukhune District.

The province recently undertook the revitalisation of the Tshivhase Tea Estate in the Vhembe District.

Extensive forestry plantations of hard wood for furniture manufacturing have also been established.

[Top]

Industry and mining

The province is rich in scarce minerals. Mining activities planned for the future could make Limpopo the richest province in South Africa. Major international mining operations contribute 20% to Limpopo's economy, making mining the primary driver of economic activity.

The province is also the world's largest producer of antimony, which is a strategic element used in alloys and medicine.

[Top]

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.

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.

Over the past five years, the provincial economy achieved an average growth of 4,7%. With a surface area of only 79 490 km², the second-smallest province after Gauteng, Mpumalanga has the fourth-largest economy in South Africa.

The people

Mpumalanga is home to just over 3,6 million people, according to Stats SA's Mid-year Population Estimates, 2010.

[Top]

Agriculture

Agriculture in Mpumalanga, which holds 17% of the medium-potential arable land in South Africa, is characterised by a combination of commercialised farming, subsistence and livestock farming and emerging crop farming. Higher demands for agricultural products are expected to boost this sector in future.

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.

Nelspruit is the second-largest citrus-producing area in South Africa. The Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops is situated here.

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.

[Top]

Industry and manufacturing

The trade sector employs 25,7% of the population, followed by the community and social services sector, which includes government, at 17,9%; manufacturing at 8,9%; and the agriculture and mining sectors at 7,5% and 5,7%, respectively.

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.

The recommissioning of three power stations in the province by Eskom is another important ongoing investment project that has presented opportunities to municipalities in the 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.

[Top]

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 province is noted for its San rock art, mineral resources, 4X4 safaris and varying topographies.

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.

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 has been shortlisted as one of two sites to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a giant next-generation radio telescope being developed by scientists from 17 countries. By February 2010, all the environment impact assessments had been finalised, the construction of the support base and on-site complexes had been completed and four of the seven Karoo Array Telescope dishes had been installed.

The largest part of the province falls within the Nama-Karoo Biome.

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

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

[Top]

The people

The Northern Cape is sparsely populated and houses more just over 1,1 million people on 361 830 km² of land (Mid-year population estimates, 2010). About 68% 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.

[Top]

Agriculture and industry

The Northern Cape is enjoying tremendous growth in value-added activities, such as game farming, food production and processing for the local and export market.

Agriculture is still one of the mainstay sectors of the Northern Cape’s economy and is therefore critical in overall economic planning.

The Integrated Provincial Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprise (SMME) Strategy allows the province to implement effective second-economy interventions to address poverty, underdevelopment and marginalisation.

[Top]

Mining

The Northern Cape is rich in minerals. The country’s chief diamond pipes are found in the Kimberley district, which is often referred to as the “Diamond Capital of the World”.

Alluvial diamonds are extracted from the beaches and the sea between Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth.

The Sishen Mine near Kathu is the biggest source of iron ore in South Africa, while the copper mine at Okiep is one of the oldest mines in the country. Copper is also mined at Springbok and Aggeneys.

The province is rich in asbestos, manganese, fluorspar, semi-precious stones and marble.

[Top]

North West

North West boasts a year-round sunny climate, exciting wildlife destinations like the Pilanesberg National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve, various cultural and historical attractions as well as Sun City and Lost City.

Also known as the “Platinum Province”, North West is centrally located on the subcontinent with direct road and rail links to all southern African countries, and with its own airport near the capital city, Mafikeng.

Most economic activity is concentrated in the Southern Region (between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp), Rustenburg, and the Eastern Region, where more than 83,3% of GDP-R of the province is generated.

The people

Of the 3,2 million people living in the North West, 65% live in the rural areas (Mid-year population estimates, 2010).

Mining

Mining is responsible for more than a third of the province’s gross domestic product (GDP).

• Platinum comes from the Rustenburg and Brits districts, which produce more platinum than any other single platinumproduction area in the world.
• Diamonds are mined at Lichtenburg, Koster, Christiana and Bloemhof.
• Fluorspar is exploited at Zeerust.
• Granite and marble are also mined, and copper and nickel byproducts also yield substantial earnings annually.

[Top]

Manufacturing

The sectors that contributed most to the provincial annual growth between 2005 and 2008 were mining, community services, finance and trade. In 2008, the North West economy was valued at R152 067 million in nominal values, which translates into R73 202 million in constant 2000 prices. The contribution of North West to the national economy in 2008 was 6,7%.

In 2008, North West occupied the seventh economic position in the country followed by the Free State and the Northern Cape. North West's manufacturing sector is centred around the municipalities of Brits, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and Mafikeng, 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 being manufactured in the province using local materials and resources.

Agriculture

Agriculture is of extreme importance to the North West. It contributes about 2,6% to the total GDP-R and 19% to formal employment.

Some 5,9% of the South African GDP in agriculture and 16,96% of total labour in agriculture are based in North West (Provincial Economies, 2004). The province is an important food basket in South Africa. Maize and sunflowers are the most important crops, and North West is the country's major producer of white maize.

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.

[Top]

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.

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.

[Top]

The people

More than 5,2 million people live in the Western Cape on 129 370 km² of land (Mid-year population estimates, 2010). Afrikaans is spoken by the majority, with isiXhosa and English being the other main languages.

[Top]

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.

The province has also established itself as the leading facilitator in the export of ostrich meat to Europe. In addition to meat, fine leatherware and ostrich feathers are also exported to destinations all over the world.

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.

[Top]

Industry

The backbone of the Western Cape’s economy is small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs). Many of South Africa's major insurance companies and banks are based in the Western Cape.

The majority of the country's petroleum companies and the largest segment of the printing and publishing industry are located in Cape Town. Information and communications technology is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the province, and operations are rapidly being expanded to other provinces.

Cape Town is the economic hub of the province, encompassing industrial areas such as Epping, Montagu Gardens, Parow and Retreat. Along the west coast, the Saldanha Steel Project has led to increased economic activity.

Source: South Africa Yearbook 2010/11
Editor: D Burger. Government Communication and Information System

[Top]

Last modified: 19 August 2011 15:33:33.