Namakwa District Municipality Investment Prospectus

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INTRODUCTION NAMAKWA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
THE NORTHERN CAPE’S
LARGEST DISTRICT OFFERS ENDLESS VARIETY
• Towns: Alexander Bay, Calvinia, Fraserburg, Garies, Niewoudtville,
Okiep, Pofadder, Port Nolloth, Springbok, Sutherland, Williston.
The Namakwa District stretches from the north-western corner
of the province, and the country, bordering Namibia and the
Atlantic Ocean to the southern border of the province with the
Western Cape Province. It includes the famous stargazing town of
Sutherland on its southern edge. The district is sparsely populated,
and predominantly rural. It contributes 11.1% to economic activity
in the province. It is the largest district in the province, making
up over a third of its geographical area. There are six local
municipalities: Nama Khoi, Hantam, Khai-Ma, Kamiesberg, Karoo
Hoogland and Richtersveld.
A major new investment has been undertaken in zinc at the Gamsberg
project. The mining and agricultural sectors provide most
employment, while tourism and small-scale manufacturing are also
present. There are plans to create two major economic nodes in the
Namakwa District Municipality, one around the zinc mining project,
which will become the Namakwa Special Economic Zone (NAMSEZ)
and the other a deepsea port and green hydrogen port to become
the Boegoebaai SEZ.
The goal is to position the district and the province at the heart of
South Africa’s nascent green hydrogen economy. Sasol and the IDC
are already involved in feasibility studies. The region’s economy gets
a boost every spring when large numbers of domestic and international
tourists flock to see the veld in bloom. Most of the province lies
in the Nama-Karoo Biome and the annual display of spring flowers
is spectacular.
The region is particularly blessed when it comes to national
parks. Each of the /Ai/Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, the
Namakwa National Park and the Tankwa Karoo National Park have
special qualities that appeal to a wide range of visitors. The Kgalagadi
Transfrontier Park (with Botswana) encompasses 3.7-million
hectares, making it one of the biggest conservation areas in the
world. The vast open spaces of the province lend themselves to
stargazing, which can be done from a campsite or from the formal
optical telescope which is open to visitors in Sutherland.
Area: 126 836km²
Population: 139 370 (2019)
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNTIES
Separate sections in this Prospectus lay out investment opportunities
in detail. In brief these are:
• Boegoebaai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and deepsea port
• Green hydrogen production at the same venue
• Namakwa SEZ, centred on the Vedanta Zinc International mining
operation in Aggenys
• Namakwa Irrigation Scheme
• Development of Springbok airport
FRANCES BAARD
JOHN TAOLO GAETSEWE
NAMAKWA
PIXLEY KA SEME
ZF MGCAWU
DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY INFORMATION
The Namakwa District Municipality Category C municipality
Municipal headquarters: Springbok
Postal address: Private Bag X20, Springbok 8240
Physical address: Hendrik J Visser Building, Van Riebeeck Street,
Springbok
Tel: +27 27 712 8000
Website: www.namakwa-dm.gov.za