Western Cape Business 2018 edition

SPECIAL FEATURE
Town International Airport from their own countries.
The Port of Cape Town is ideally situated at the
crossroads of some of the world’s most important
trade routes. The transport, maritime and logistics
sector is consequently very important. Bunkering and
ship repair are other vital port facilities, and the boat
repair and boat building industries continue to grow.
The port plays a major role in exporting the province’s
excellent fruit, wine and other agricultural products
to international markets.
Cape Town has a diverse manufacturing sector,
with petroleum products, food and beverages and
metals and metal products being major sectors. Growth
sectors include the film industry, ICT and other tech
specialities such as fintech and medical diagnostics.
West Coast District Municipality
Towns: Saldanha Bay, Malmesbury, Clanwilliam,
Vredenburg, Morreesburg.
The economy of this region ranges from manufacturing
in Saldanha, Atlantis and Malmesbury to agriculture and
forestry centred on inland towns like Moorreesburg
(wheat), Cedarberg (forestry) and Citrusdal. Cement
is made in Riebeeck West and Piketberg and fishing
takes place all along the coast. Rooibos tea and shoes
are made in Clanwilliam. The remote mission station
of Wupperthal is famous for its veldskoens. The Port
of Saldanha Bay is the principal port for the export of
iron-ore and is gearing itself to service the continent’s
oil and gas industry and to be a steel manufacturing
hub. Mineral sands are mined north of Saldanha.
Cape Winelands District Municipality
Towns: Stellenbosch, Paarl, Worcester, Robertson,
Wellington, Franschhoek.
Nearly 70% of South Africa’s wine comes from this area.
Vineyards also attract many tourists but tourism in the
Winelands includes wellness spas, adventure tourism
and game farms. Manufacturing is concentrated on
processing grapes and fruit into wine, juice, brandy,
dried and tinned fruit products. Dairy manufacturer
Parmalat has an award-winning cheese-making facility
in Bonnievale. Robertson is known for roses and thoroughbred
horses. Stellenbosch is home to its eponymous
university which is becoming synonymous with
tech start-ups and innovation. Several large companies,
such as PSG Group, have their headquarters in the town.
Overberg District Municipality
Towns: Caledon, Bredasdorp, Hermanus,
Swellendam, Cape Agulhas.
The Overberg contains the southernmost tip of Africa
(Cape Agulhas), the oldest mission station in South
Africa (Genadendal), a large casino resort (in Caledon)
and some of the best whale viewing in the world
(Whale Coast). It also hosts some high-quality fruit
farms in the Ceres Valley and rural villages that are very
popular with tourists such as Barrydale and Greyton.
Agriculture is the principal economic activity of the
region and the services sector is strong.
Eden District Municipality
Towns: George, Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Knysna,
Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay.
The area has two important tourist names: the Cape
Garden Route on the coast and the Klein Karoo between
the mountain ranges. Route 62 is a popular route
which ends (or starts) in Oudtshoorn, home of the
Cango Caves. A report by the Bureau for Economic
Research has found that Eden DM is one of the bestperforming
regions because of tourism. The area is
famous for fine golf courses and golf estates. Mossel
Bay, where the slipway in the harbour is receiving a
multi-million-rand upgrade, hosts a large gas-processing
plant while George is a node of manufacturing, trade
and administration. The Klein Karoo has its own wine
route and port, cheese and brandy are produced. Fruit,
vegetables and ostriches are other main products.
Central Karoo District Municipality
Towns: Beaufort West, Laingsburg, Prince Albert.
The largest district in the province has the smallest
population, a reflection of the semi-desert conditions:
71 000 people live on 38 000km². Sheep farming predominates
and there are plans to introduce agri-parks
to towns in the region. Beaufort West is strategically
positioned on the N1 highway which links Cape Town
with the interior of South Africa. The nearby Karoo
National Park has recently acquired some lions and
Prince Albert is a quaint town situated in the shadow of
the Swartberg Mountain, close to the dramatic portals
that link the Karoo to the Klein Karoo: Seweweekspoort,
the Swartberg Pass and Meiringspoort.
WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2018
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