 |
|
 |
|
| Provinces | People | The Constitution | The Land | Labour | Climate | Economy | Cutting Edge Technology | Quality of Life | Major Tourist Attractions | Crime | HIV / AIDS | |
|
Provinces
|
|
|
The Eastern Cape is located on the south eastern seaboard of South Africa. The province's climate varies from mild temperate conditions (14-23 degrees Celsius) along the coastal areas to slightly more extreme conditions (5-35 degrees Celsius) among the inland areas, with the inland mountain areas experiencing winter snows and summer rainfalls. The province's population is mostly made up of the Xhosa nation. The Eastern Cape has a large automotive industry (mostly automotive assembly and component manufacturing) in the Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage area. Marked with rolling hills, a beautiful coastline, lovely beaches and lagoons, the province offers attractive tourist destinations and investment opportunities. Tourism is expected to be the major growth industry as the province has over 800 kilometres of totally unspoilt tropical beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Other major industries in the province include agriculture, textiles and clothing, wool, timber and transport. Capital: Bisho
This province is the home of the Zulu nation. Its geography varies from sandy beaches on the east through to rolling midland hills and the magnificent Drakensberg mountain range in the west. The province's economy is based on manufacturing, agriculture (sugar cane, sub-tropical fruits and dairy farms) and tourism. The three largest sub-sectors in the manufacturing sector are pulp and paper products (19%), chemicals and petro-chemicals (17%), followed closely by food and beverages. Other important sectors are engineering, textiles and footwear as well as transport. Durban is the second largest city in South Africa and is home to the busiest container seaport in Africa. About 100km north of Durban is Richards Bay, the country's premier bulk handling port. Richards Bay is home to Alusaf - one of the world's largest aluminium smelters. Capital(s): Ulundi and Pietermaritzburg
Gauteng, meaning "Place of Gold" in Sesotho, is located in the heart of South Africa. Gauteng is the country’s economic powerhouse, producing 37% of the GDP and home to 70% of the labour force. Johannesburg, 6000 feet above sea level, is the provincial capital and Pretoria, the administrative capital of the country, also lie within Gauteng. Gauteng historically gained it’s wealth from the substantial gold reserves that attracted prospectors to the area, but today it has strengths in a range of areas. More recently, manufacturing (motor vehicles, parts, transport equipment, fabricated metal products, iron and steel, food and other chemicals) and the services sector have become more dominant, with financial services, information technology and telecommunications now the fastest growing industries. Gauteng’s road, rail, airline, electricity, telephones and telecommunication infrastructure are rated as world class. The preferred industries for investment are pharmaceuticals, auto components, IT, telecommunications, food processing, aluminium products, carbonated soft drinks, and beer and malt beverages. Capital: Johannesburg
The Free State is a diverse province from the sweeping plains of maize and wheat to the thriving industrial and commercial centres such as Botshabelo and Harrismith. The capital city is Bloemfontein, which is also the judicial capital of the country. Besides the agricultural activity, the province is also richly endowed with gold deposits and has the country’s premier petrochemical centre at Sasolburg in the north. The largest sector of the Free State economy is mining and quarrying (20%), with other major sectors being manufacturing (14.6%), public sector, finance, insurance, real estate and business services, trade and agriculture. The province has good infrastructure and is centrally situated between SA’s four major metropolitan markets. The main areas for foreign investor involvement have been identified as gold jewellery, petrochemicals, tourism, leather tanning and finishing, farm machinery and equipment and floriculture. Capital : Bloemfontein
The Mpumalanga province consists of the "bushveld" (grasslands) and the "lowveld" (lower plateau) regions and borders Mozambique in the east. With its vast coal reserves it is the principal electricity-generating region in the country. Manufacturing, mining, electricity, agriculture and forestry contribute 75% of Mpumalanga's total GDP. The tourist industry also plays a significant role in the economy and consists of private and public game reserves, scenic panoramas, historic towns and the natural beauty of the lowveld. Mpumalanga is the heartland of the Maputo Development Corridor,
Africa's first major Public-Private sector Partnership. This unique
partnership has been established to: Capital: Nelspruit
The Northern Province positions itself as the gateway to Africa. The province borders on Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The province is as a result well situated at the heart of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Northern Province is a treasure chest of vast wealth beneath the ground and deep fertile soil on the surface. Diverse mining of international acclaim is conducted in the province. The province is also one of South Africa's richest agricultural areas. Abundant orchards of various subtropical fruit form the basis of a thriving agro-industrial sector in the region. Mining, agriculture, forestry and tourism dominate the economy. The provincial government is backing these sectors and public game parks are to be privatised to promote tourism further. Capital: Pietersburg
The Northern Cape's weather is typical of desert and semi-desert areas. The region is dry with fluctuating temperatures and varying topographies. The annual rainfall (50-400mm) is erratic. Mid summer-afternoon temperatures are usually between 33-40º Celsius. The area is famous for its spectacular display of spring flowers, which colourfully carpet the landscape for a short period every year, attracting many local and international tourists. Other tourist attractions include the Kalahari Gemsbok Park, and the San cultural heritage sites. It is one of the largest nature conservation areas in southern Africa, and one of the largest remaining natural ecosystems in the world. The province has fertile agricultural land fed by the Orange River. The Orange River Valley is intensively cultivated. The Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme helps the area to produce wheat, fruit, peanuts, maize and cotton. The economy of a large part of the Northern Cape depends on sheep farming. The Northern Cape is extremely rich in minerals. Kimberley, the capital of this province, is the diamond capital of the world. The country’s chief diamond deposits or "pipes" are found in the Kimberley district. Alluvial diamonds are also extracted from the beaches and sea between Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth. The Sishen Mine in the region is the biggest source of iron ore in South Africa. The province is also rich in copper, asbestos, manganese, fluorspar, semi-precious stones and marble. Capital: Kimberley
The North West Province is situated just south of Botswana and
is an ideal link between SA and the African interior. Some 94% of
SA’s platinum, 32% of its chromite and 25% of the gold is produced
here. As such, mining accounts for 60% of the province’s economic
activity and employs 25% of its labour. Agriculture is also dominant
in terms of maize, citrus fruits, cotton and tobacco, and the major
tourist attractions are the Pilansberg National Park, Sun City and
the Magaliesberg mountain range. The traditional manufacturing activities
comprise pottery, glass, plastics, iron, non-ferrous metals and
food processing. The local government has plans to increase the
manufacturing component especially in terms of beneficiation of
raw materials. The sectors that have been identified for investment
in the province include mining and related activities, food processing,
pharmaceuticals, jewellery, tourism, textiles, paper and printing
and agro-industries.
The Western Cape is located at the southern tip of Africa. The province is blessed with stunning scenery. The region has a moderate climate, ample and fertile agricultural soils. It has limited mineral deposits but one of the richest fishing areas. The diversity of the region's topography, with the mix of mountains, rivers and sea make for one of the world's most attractive tourist destinations. Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. The Western Cape economy has a broad-based sector structure with agriculture, manufacturing, trade, tourism and financial services each a significant pillar for present and prospective future growth. Attractive living conditions have helped to attract professionals and footloose industries, as indicated by the growth of the IT industry and the number of corporate offices established in the region. The natural beauty, pleasant climate and the diversified culture have assisted in boosting the filmmaking industry. The economy of the region depends on clothing and textiles, manufacturing, printing and publishing, wine and fruit production, sheep and wheat farming, fishing and tourism. Famous tourist attractions include Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Waterfront, the winelands and beautiful beaches. The Western Cape boasts one of the six accepted floral kingdoms of the world. Although the smallest of them all, the Western Cape Floral Kingdom, locally called fynbos, contains more plant species than the whole of Europe. Capital: Cape Town |
|