Northern Cape Business 2024-25

CONTENTS

CONTENTS Northern Cape Business 2024/25 Edition Introduction Foreword 7 The Northern Cape’s unique guide to business and investment. Special features Regional overview 8 Investments in towns such as De Aar and Kuruman are indicators of a broader uptick in investment and growth in the Northern Cape, led by mining and renewable energy projects. Education in the Northern Cape: modernising and growing 10 The happy coincidence of the first years of a vibrant young university overlapping with the term of office of an education-focussed provincial premier has seen the Northern Cape’s education sector thrive. The pivotal importance of infrastructure 16 Public and private investments in vital infrastructure are creating a platform for increased investment into the Northern Cape. Namakwa Special Economic Zone 21 An industrial hub for the West Coast and a catalyst for industrialising the western SADC area. Upington Industrial Park 22 Location is key. Green hydrogen value chain 45 Green hydrogen could contribute towards the development of new industries in the Northern Cape and enable the reindustrialisation of industries nationally. Boegoeberg Special Economic Zone 46 The Green Transformation: The GH2 hub of the Western SADC. Kathu Industrial Park 49 Driving local economic growth.

Northern Cape Business A unique guide to business and investment in the Northern Cape. Credits Publishing director: Chris Whales Editor: John Young Managing director: Clive During Online editor: Christoff Scholtz Designer: Tyra Martin Production: Sharon Angus-Leppan Ad sales: Gavin van der Merwe Sam Oliver Tahlia Wyngaard Tennyson Naidoo Gabriel Venter Vanessa Wallace Shiko Diala Graeme February Venesia Fowler Administration & accounts: Charlene Steynberg Kathy Wootton Distribution and circulation manager: Edward MacDonald Printing: FA Print DISTRIBUTION Northern Cape Business is distributed internationally on outgoing and incoming trade missions, through trade and investment agencies; to foreign offices in South Africa’s main trading partners around the world; at top national and international events; through the offices of foreign representatives in South Africa; as well as nationally and regionally via chambers of commerce, tourism offices, airport lounges, provincial government departments, municipalities and companies. The 2024/25 edition of Northern Cape Business is the 14th issue of this highly successful publication that has, since its launch in 2009, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Northern Cape Province. Officially supported and used by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDaT), Northern Cape Business is unique as a business and investment guide that focuses exclusively on the province. Specific investment projects are outlined in detail by DEDaT in this journal, covering opportunities in energy and mining, together with reports on dedicated investment zones. One of these new zones is on the Atlantic Ocean, a short distance north of Port Nolloth. The Northern Cape is almost uniquely qualified to play a lead role in the development of the country’s green hydrogen economy, given its bountiful resources of land, wind and sun. The blending together of an earlier idea to develop a deepwater port at Boegoebaai with the creation of a Special Economic Zone devoted to green hydrogen production is particularly exciting. With the year 2024 signalling the end of an election cycle, two special features in this edition focus on important elements of the brief of the public sector, namely education and infrastructure. To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www. globalafricanetwork.com under e-books. Updated information on the Northern Cape is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well our flagship South African Business title. In 2020, the inaugural The Journal of African Business joined the Global African Network stable of publications. ■ Chris Whales Publisher, Global Africa Network | Email: chris@gan.co.za FOREWORD PUBLISHED BY Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd Company Registration No: 2004/004982/07 Directors: Clive During, Chris Whales Physical address: 28 Main Road, Rondebosch 7700 Postal address: PO Box 292, Newlands 7701 Tel: +27 21 657 6200 Email: info@gan.co.za | Website: www.gan.co.za Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations ISSN 2074-0654 COPYRIGHT | Northern Cape Business is an independent publication published by Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. Full copyright to the publication vests with Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. PHOTO CREDITS | Alain Proust/Country Hotels; Colossal Concrete; Don Heyneke/Tswala Kalahari Reserve; Dorper Breeders Association of South Africa; Eskom; GIC; Kathu Solar Park; Northern Cape Tourism Authority (NCTA); Noupoort Wind Farm; Orion Minerals; RVI; SANRAL; SIOC-Community Development Trust; Trina Solar; Vine Academy and Model Farm. DISCLAIMER | While the publisher, Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd, has used all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in Northern Cape Business is accurate and up-to-date, the publishers make no representations as to the accuracy, quality, timeliness, or completeness of the information. Global Africa Network will not accept responsibility for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use of or any reliance placed on such information. 5 NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2024/25