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 CAPE Economic growth requires an educated workforce. The fast-expanding Sol Plaatje University is playing an important role in that regard. PHOTO: LihleEQ/Wikimedia Commons Building a modern, growing and successful Northern Cape Transforming abundant natural resources into valuable investment opportunities. The Northern Cape Province stands ready to serve as the growth engine of South Africa’s future. As a province, our natural advantages are tangible: abundant solar potential, powerful wind corridors and fertile soils. Our skies are some of the clearest in the world, making us an ideal hub for astronomy and data science. As a result, we are now a central platform for innovation, investment, renewable energy and inclusive growth. Our vision is grounded in three priorities: building a modern, growing and successful province. This is not just rhetoric but a practical framework that informs every policy, investment and intervention we implement. Through initiatives such as the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor and the Namakwa Special Economic Zone, we are positioning the province as a powerhouse for green energy and regional trade integration, creating opportunities for our citizens and investors alike. We acknowledge that the fundamentals must be in place. Since the outset of our administration, we have focused on expanding access - to education, healthcare, data and opportunity. Since 2019, we have facilitated more than R1-billion in technology infrastructure investment and are on track to reach universal digital access by 2030. This will serve as the foundation for further progress in both social and economic development. Our province has long benefitted from the natural advantages presented by our land, soils and resources. Now, in collaboration with global partners and investors, we are turning those advantages into long-term economic value. The Northern Cape is on a trajectory of growth, modernisation and success. We invite you to partner with us; the opportunities are limitless. From wind and solar power to hydrogen, metals and rare earth minerals, the Northern Cape is transforming its abundant natural resources and creating new opportunities for local and international investors to add value, generate jobs and turn the province into a low-carbon export powerhouse serving global markets. Vital human capital The pursuit of defined policies in healthcare, education, infrastructure and economic development over the last few years has significantly improved the quality of everyday life in the Northern Cape. Growing the economy requires an educated and healthy workforce. That is why government has dedicated significant resources to education and health, with 67% of the budget allocated to these two sectors.
| +27 53 833 1503 .za | info@investsanc.co.za tsanc.co.za orthern Cape: A Modern, Growing and Successful Province” 2022/23 2022/06/01 13:03 More than 311 000 children are now enrolled in schools, demonstrating impressive progress towards universal education access, while health indicators also show remarkable gains, particularly in maternal and infant health. The education budget has risen from R6.2-billion to more than R9-billion in the last five years, a move that has enabled the provision of better facilities at every learning stage and lowering barriers to education. “Our focus on improving outcomes in township and rural schools has yielded significant success,” comments Dr Zamani Saul, Premier of the Northern Cape. “We have seen an unprecedented rise in distinctions and university-eligible students in previously underperforming schools.” The education sector is undergoing a comprehensive modernisation programme. Schools have been equipped with new digital tools, while more than 5 000 teachers have completed training in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects. Specialist technology-led pilot projects are being rolled out at 173 schools. Sol Plaatje University continues to grow in terms of courses offered, research programmes, new units and overall enrolment, which now exceeds 7 000 students. R500-million has been invested in a state-ofthe-art nursing college to help meet the target of 4 500 nurses needed to operate the province’s clinics 24 hours a day. A hub for scientific innovation The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will revolutionise our understanding of the universe, space and astrophysics. This next-generation radio telescope will deploy thousands of antennae and dishes spread across multiple countries, including 197 in South Africa. The Karoo region was chosen because of its unique attributes, including minimal radio interference from human activity and mobile phone signals; clear, dry skies that are ideal for radio astronomy; and a legacy infrastructure from the MeerKAT telescope, a precursor to the SKA equipped with 64 powerful radio dishes that are already producing groundbreaking astronomical discoveries. The SKA has multiple scientific goals, including exploring the origins of the universe, tracking the behaviour of black holes and understanding more about magnetic fields. We are now a central platform for innovation, investment, renewable energy and inclusive growth Dr Zamani Saul, Premier of the Northern Cape The SKA project is already having a positive impact on South Africa’s wider economy, transforming the Northern Cape into a global hub for astronomy, data science and advanced technology. Its impact extends beyond space research, driving progress in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education, and high-performance computing and skills development, while also fostering local economic growth. “Beyond science, the SKA is catalysing innovation in data science, ICT skills and infrastructure in the Karoo region,” comments Dr Saul. “The project is bringing jobs, training and skills development to the Northern Cape in a variety of sectors, including infrastructure improvements to transport networks, power and internet provision that benefit local communities,” notes Dr Saul. Government-backed initiatives are additionally funding young South African students in astronomy, physics and engineering programmes. ■
