Northern Cape at a glance
The Northern Cape is unique as a trade and investment destination. Its vast geographical extent and natural resources, complemented by human capacity and sound infrastructure, offer its partners a wide array of attractive trade and investment opportunities meeting global standards.
The geographic location of the Northern Cape provides easy access to SADC markets and export ports via sea and air. The entry points in terms of access to Namibia and Botswana, extending to Zambia, provide a unique competitive advantage.
Introduction to Namakwa District Municipality
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.
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- Area: 126 836 km²
- Towns: Alexander Bay, Calvinia, Fraserburg, Garies, Niewoudtville, Okiep, Pofadder, Port Nolloth, Springbok, Sutherland, Williston.
- Population: 139 370 (2019)
Investment Opportunities
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
Read the Namakwa District Municipality Investment Prospectus here:
Contact / Invest in Namakwa District
Potential investors are invited to contact the Namakwa District Municipality via this form to enquire about any of these opportunities. Please mention the name of your project/opportunity of interest.
