The 2025/26 edition of Northern Cape Business is the 15th issue of this highly successful publication that has, since its launch in 2009, 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) at conferences and other events, 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.
Renewable energy investments continue to be made into the province, both in terms of wind power and solar farms, and plans to promote the green hydrogen economy are in place. The Northern Cape is almost uniquely qualified to play a lead role in this enterprise, given its bountiful resources of land, wind and sun. The idea to develop a deepwater port at Boegoebaai has been linked to the notion of a Special Economic Zone devoted to green hydrogen production.
The scale and importance of the giant radio astronomy project is given good coverage in this edition, with its economic impact, value as an educational and scientific catalyst and its potential role in boosting tourism all receiving attention.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at https://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 https://www.southafricanbusiness.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well our flagship South African Business title.
INVESTING IN THE
INVESTING IN THE NORTHERN CAPEEconomic growth requiresan educated workforce. Thefast-expanding Sol PlaatjeUniversity is playing animportant role in that regard.PHOTO: LihleEQ/Wikimedia CommonsBuilding a modern, growing andsuccessful Northern CapeTransforming abundant natural resources into valuable investment opportunities.The Northern Cape Province stands readyto serve as the growth engine of South Africa’sfuture. As a province, our natural advantagesare tangible: abundant solar potential,powerful wind corridors and fertile soils. Our skiesare some of the clearest in the world, making usan ideal hub for astronomy and data science. As aresult, we are now a central platform for innovation,investment, renewable energy and inclusive growth.Our vision is grounded in three priorities: buildinga modern, growing and successful province. Thisis not just rhetoric but a practical framework thatinforms every policy, investment and interventionwe implement. Through initiatives such as theNorthern Cape Industrial Corridor and the NamakwaSpecial Economic Zone, we are positioning theprovince as a powerhouse for green energy andregional trade integration, creating opportunities forour citizens and investors alike.We acknowledge that the fundamentals mustbe in place. Since the outset of our administration,we have focused on expanding access – toeducation, healthcare, data and opportunity. Since2019, we have facilitated more than R1-billion intechnology infrastructure investment and are ontrack to reach universal digital access by 2030. Thiswill serve as the foundation for further progressin both social and economic development.Our province has long benefitted from thenatural advantages presented by our land, soilsand resources. Now, in collaboration with globalpartners and investors, we are turning thoseadvantages into long-term economic value.The Northern Cape is on a trajectory of growth,modernisation and success. We invite you to partnerwith us; the opportunities are limitless.From wind and solar power to hydrogen, metalsand rare earth minerals, the Northern Cape istransforming its abundant natural resources andcreating new opportunities for local and internationalinvestors to add value, generate jobs and turn theprovince into a low-carbon export powerhouseserving global markets.Vital human capitalThe pursuit of defined policies in healthcare,education, infrastructure and economic developmentover the last few years has significantly improvedthe quality of everyday life in the Northern Cape.Growing the economy requires an educated andhealthy workforce. That is why government hasdedicated significant resources to education andhealth, with 67% of the budget allocated to thesetwo sectors.
| +27 53 833 1503.za | info@investsanc.co.zatsanc.co.zaorthern Cape: A Modern, Growing and Successful Province”2022/232022/06/01 13:03More than 311 000 children are now enrolled inschools, demonstrating impressive progress towardsuniversal education access, while health indicatorsalso show remarkable gains, particularly in maternaland infant health.The education budget has risen from R6.2-billionto more than R9-billion in the last five years, a movethat has enabled the provision of better facilitiesat every learning stage and lowering barriers toeducation. “Our focus on improving outcomes intownship and rural schools has yielded significantsuccess,” comments Dr Zamani Saul, Premier of theNorthern Cape. “We have seen an unprecedentedrise in distinctions and university-eligible students inpreviously underperforming schools.”The education sector is undergoing acomprehensive modernisation programme. Schoolshave been equipped with new digital tools, whilemore than 5 000 teachers have completed trainingin STEM (science, technology, engineering andmaths) subjects. Specialist technology-led pilotprojects are being rolled out at 173 schools.Sol Plaatje University continues to grow interms of courses offered, research programmes,new units and overall enrolment, which now exceeds7 000 students.R500-million has been invested in a state-ofthe-artnursing college to help meet the target of4 500 nurses needed to operate the province’sclinics 24 hours a day.A hub for scientific innovationThe Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will revolutioniseour understanding of the universe, space andastrophysics. This next-generation radio telescopewill deploy thousands of antennae and dishesspread across multiple countries, including 197 inSouth Africa. The Karoo region was chosen becauseof its unique attributes, including minimal radiointerference from human activity and mobilephone signals; clear, dry skies that are ideal for radioastronomy; and a legacy infrastructure from theMeerKAT telescope, a precursor to the SKA equippedwith 64 powerful radio dishes that are alreadyproducing groundbreaking astronomical discoveries.The SKA has multiple scientific goals, includingexploring the origins of the universe, tracking thebehaviour of black holes and understanding moreabout magnetic fields.We are nowa central platform forinnovation, investment,renewable energy andinclusive growthDr Zamani Saul, Premier of the Northern CapeThe SKA project is already having a positive impacton South Africa’s wider economy, transforming theNorthern Cape into a global hub for astronomy,data science and advanced technology. Its impactextends beyond space research, driving progress inscience, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)education, and high-performance computingand skills development, while also fostering localeconomic growth.“Beyond science, the SKA is catalysing innovationin data science, ICT skills and infrastructure in theKaroo region,” comments Dr Saul. “The project isbringing jobs, training and skills developmentto the Northern Cape in a variety of sectors,including infrastructure improvements to transportnetworks, power and internet provision thatbenefit local communities,” notes Dr Saul.Government-backed initiatives are additionallyfunding young South African students inastronomy, physics and engineering programmes. ■
