Northern Cape Business 2017/18 is the seventh edition of this highly successful publication that has, since its launch in 2009, established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Northern Cape Province.
Officially supported and utilised by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Northern Cape Business is unique as a business and investment guide that focuses exclusively on the Northern Cape.
SPECIAL FEATURE energy,
SPECIAL FEATURE energy, be it wind, solar, hydro or biomass. Many of the districts already have sizable renewable energy plants up and running. Frances Baard District Municipality Towns: Kimberley, Barkly West, Warrenton, Hartswater, Jan Kempdorp. This district accounts for 40.3% of the province’s economic activity. It is the smallest but with a population of approximately 325 500, it is the most densely populated. Although Kimberley is historically renowned for diamond mining, its economy is now driven by its role as the administrative headquarters of the province. Strategically located and with good infrastructure, Kimberley is the leading centre in the province for retail, financial services, education, commerce and light industry. The Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre and the Sol Plaatje University are in Kimberley. Mining and agriculture are found in rural municipalities. Agriculture in the region comprises crop cultivation and stock and game farming. The Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme is the largest irrigation project of its kind in the southern hemisphere, and produces maize, cotton, fruit, peanuts and wheat. Investment opportunities: • Sol Plaatje University • Kimberley International Diamond and Jewellery Academy (KIDJA) • Mining: diamonds and precious stones • Manufacturing: textiles, agri-processing. John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality Towns: Kuruman, Kathu, Hotazel. Kuruman is the headquarters of local government in this region which contributes 19.7% to the province’s economy. The local spring produces 20-million litres of water every day. Most of the district is situated on the Ghaap Plateau, over 1 000 metres above sea-level, and can experience extreme temperatures. Most agricultural activity is limited to grazing and boer goats are a popular breed among farmers, although game hunting is growing. Kathu has a well-developed CBD with shopping malls that arose when iron demand was high. The Sishen iron-ore mine outside Kathu is a vast undertaking, providing employment for thousands of people. Samancor’s Mamatwan and Wessels manganese mines and plants are situated at Hotazel. Investment opportunities: • Kathu Industrial Park (IDC involvement) • Eco-tourism and hunting • Boesmansput diving resort • Gamagara Mining Corridor • Goat commercialisation • Agri-processing: olives, grains, pecan nuts, medicinal plants. Namakwa District Municipality Towns: Springbok, Calvinia, Niewoudtville, Garies, Williston, Fraserburg, Sutherland, Pofadder, Okiep, Port Nolloth, Alexander Bay. The Namakwa district stretches from the northwestern corner of the province, and the country, bordering Namibia and the Atlantic Ocean to the southern border with the Western Cape Province. It includes the famous star-gazing town of Sutherland on its southern edge. The district is sparsely populated, and predominantly rural. It contributes 11.1% to economic activity in the province. A major new investment has been undertaken in zinc at the Gamsberg project at Aggeneys. The mining and agricultural sectors provide most employment, while tourism and small-scale manufacturing are also present. The region’s economy gets a great boost every spring when tourists flock to see the veld in bloom. Major plans are being pursued to upgrade the harbour at Port Nolloth and exploit the province’s long coastline as part of a growing awareness of the potential of the maritime economy. The climate and soil support certain niche crops, and the sites and sights are unique to the region, offering opportunities in agriculture and tourism. Niewoudtville is the site of a rooibos tea factory. The IAiIAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, the Namakwa National Park and the Tankwa Karoo National Park have the potential to grow as travel destinations, as does the western coastline. Investment opportunities: • Port Nolloth and smaller harbours • Hondeklip Fish Factories • Abalone and hake NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2017/18 10
SPECIAL FEATURE • Kelp processing and export • Game and nature reserve infrastructure • Rooibos tea • Calvinia: sheep and goat processing. Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality Towns: De Aar, Hanover, Carnarvon, Douglas, Marydale, Prieska, Hopetown, Richmond, Noupoort, Norvalspont, Colesberg. The district covers 102 000 square kilometres in the central Karoo and contributes 11.3% of the economic activity of the province. It has four national roads passing through it. De Aar, the site of the municipal headquarters, has national significance as a railway junction. Carnarvon will now host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope. The district is home to three of South Africa’s major dams. Agricultural production includes wheat, maize, peanuts, grapes, beans, potatoes, nuts and sheep farming. Pixley Ka Seme is the largest woolproducing district in South Africa, but most of what is produced is processed in the Eastern Cape. As a consequence, opportunities exist for the establishment of a cotton mill, a tannery and a facility to add value to semi-precious stones. Horse breeding is a valuable contributor to the regional economy. Investment opportunities: • De Aar rail cargo hub and workshops • SKA engineering, science, logistics support • Douglas holiday resort • Booktown Richmond festivals • Wool, pistachio nuts and venison processing • Water tourism activities on dams. ZF Mgcawu District Municipality Towns: Upington, Kakamas, Kenhardt, Groblershoop, Postmasberg. The Orange River supports a thriving agricultural sector and a growing tourism sector. The investment climate is ripe for tourism along the Orange River and attractions such as the Augrabies Falls. Upington is already a busy town with processing facilities for agricultural products. The planned development of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the town and next to Upington International Airport will boost manufacturing. The main targeted sectors are in the renewable energy sector, for example, solar panels. Agriculture is a prominent feature of the local economy, as well as wholesale and retail services in and around the town. Various kinds of high-speed car racing and testing takes place on the roads, tracks and airport runway in or near the town. The processing of wine and dried fruit represents one of the biggest manufacturing activities in the province. Mining activities take place in Kgatelopele, where diamonds and lime are found. Together with sheep and cattle farming, mining provides most employment. The diamond mine at Finsch is Petra Diamonds’ newest and largest acquisition. Investment opportunities: • Upington Special Economic Zone • Upington Cargo and Electronics hub: SKA, renewable energy and aircraft storage • Upington International Airport • Orange River Smallholder Farmer Settlement and Development Programme • Tourism: wine tours, adventure and hunting • Upington vehicle testing site • Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). 11 NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2017/18
