South African Business 2022

SPECIAL FEATURE The

SPECIAL FEATURE The Council for Geoscience is running a passive water remediation pilot project in Mpumalanga. Credit: CGS Lichtenberg in the North West to Queensburgh in KwaZulu-Natal had everything to do with a dysfunctional local government unable to supply basic services. If South Africa’s rural areas and smaller towns are to thrive, more interventions at this level are needed. Agriculture was another industry that saw some positives during the Covid-19 lockdown. Although sectors like wine suffered badly, a reported increase in maize exports, as well as greater international demand for citrus fruits and pecan nuts, helped the industry expand by 15% (StatsSA). Grain crops such as maize, wheat, barley and soya beans are among the county’s most important crops. Only rice is imported. Wine, corn and sugar are other major exports. Basing economic growth on a devaluing currency is not always the best long-term method of boosting economic growth, but high-value agricultural exports and increased numbers of high-spending international tourists hold some promise for helping to get the South African economy back on a growth path. Horticulture in particular is seen as holding great potential not only for increased earnings, but for creating jobs. South Africa’s traditional strength in minerals still holds good. Although gold mining is declining in volumes (even while prices rise), the major investment of Vedanta Zinc International in a project in the Northern Cape and Sibanye- Stillwater’s acquisition drive in the PGM sector are significant economic drivers. Coal and iron ore continue to be exported in large volumes through the Richards Bay Coal Terminal on the east coast and the Port of Saldanha on the west coast. Automotive manufacturing and automotive components remain vital sectors, with major investments by most of the major marques and increased exports a feature of recent activity. There has been inward investment in recent years, most notably by the Beijing Automotive International Corporation (BAIC) in the Coega Special Economic Zone outside Port Elizabeth. The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) has been launched at Silverton in Pretoria. A new SEZ has been formally declared in the northern part of Limpopo, the Musina-Makhado SEZ. The Namakwa SEZ in the Northern Cape is awaiting its license, as is the Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ in eastern Limpopo. ■ SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2022 12

SPECIAL FEATURE Provinces of South Africa A snapshot of South Africa’s nine provinces. SPECIAL FEATURE Eastern Cape Capital: Bhisho Main towns: Port Gqeberha Elizabeth, (formerly East London, Port Elizabeth), Uitenhage, East London, Graaff- Reinet, Kariega Mthatha, (formerly Grahamstown Uitenhage), (Makhanda) Graaff-Reinet, Mthatha, Makhanda Population: 6 916 200 (2015) Area: 168 966km² (13.8% of South Africa) Premier: Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane (ANC) Key sectors: Automotive, agriculture, agri-processing, agro-processing, forestry, finance, retail, tourism, renewable energy. Infrastructure: Coega Industrial Development Zone, East London Industrial Development Zone, ports of East London, Port Elizabeth and Ngqura, airports at Port Gqeberha Elizabeth and and East East London. London. Notable tourism assets: Addo Elephant National Park, Mountain Zebra National Park, Wild Coast, Jeffreys Bay, National Arts Festival. Provincial government website: www.ecprov.gov.za Eastern Cape Development Corporation: www.ecdc.co.za Free State Capital: Bloemfontein Main towns: Welkom, Sasolburg, Parys, Kroonstad Population: 2 817 900 (2015) Area: 129 825km² (10.6% of South Africa) Premier: Sefora Hixsonia Ntombela (ANC) Key sectors: Agriculture, agri-processing, agro-processing, chemical manufacturing, mining, transport and logistics. Infrastructure: Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone, Bram Fischer International Airport, University of the Free State, Central University of Technology, N8 Corridor. Notable tourism assets: Vaal River, Gariep Dam, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Cherry Festival, Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe). Provincial government website: www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za Free State Development Corporation: www.fdc.co.za Gauteng Capital: Johannesburg Main towns: Tshwane (including (including Pretoria), Ekurhuleni, Pretoria), Ekurhuleni, Vanderbijl- Vanderbijlpark, Roodepoort Roodepoort Population: 13 200 300 (2015) Area: 18 178km² (1.5% of South Africa) Premier: David Makhura (ANC) Key sectors: Financial and banking, banking, manufacturing, manufacturing, trade, creative trade, creative industries, industries, media. media. Infrastructure: OR Tambo International Airport, Gautrain, ORT Special major Economic universities Zone, Gautrain, and research major institutions, universities and large research convention institutions, large FNB convention Stadium (Soccer centres, City). centres, FNB Stadium (Soccer City). Notable tourism assets: Cradle of Humankind, Notable tourism Apartheid assets: Museum, Cradle of Constitution Humankind, Hill, Apartheid Magaliesberg, Museum, Soweto Constitution tours, Hill, Dinokeng. Magaliesberg, Soweto tours, Dinokeng. Provincial government website: www.gauteng.gov.za Provincial government website: Gauteng www.gauteng.gov.za Growth and Development Gauteng Growth Agency: and Development Agency: www.ggda.co.za www.ggda.co.za SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2021 2020 16 20