Northern Cape Province, South Africa

The Northern Cape, situated in western South Africa is the largest and least populated province in the country.

Northern Cape was administratively created in 1994 after the end of apartheid when the Province of the Cape of Good Hope was split up into three provinces, the other two being Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

The largest and capital city of the Northern Cape is Kimberley. Other major cities and towns include Upington, Postmasburg, De Aar, Barkly West, Douglas, Jan Kempdorp, Warrenton, Kuruman, and Springbok

The vast and arid Northern Cape covers an area of 372,889 square kilometres (143,973 square miles), taking up nearly a third of the country’s land area and making it the largest province in South Africa.

Despite its huge size, the Northern Cape has a population of 1,372,943 inhabitants (2.2% of the national population) according to the 2024 Mid-Year estimates by Statistics South Africa, making it the least populous province of South Africa.

It is bordered by countries Botswana and Namibia on the north, provinces North West and Free State on the east, Eastern Cape on the southeast, Western Cape on the south and southwest, and the Atlantic Ocean on the west which also forms the province’s western boundary.

The Northern Cape’s economy heavily relies on mining and agriculture. The province is rich in minerals such as diamonds, iron ore, copper, asbestos, manganese, tungsten, fluorspar, zinc, lead, limestone, semi-precious stones, and marble.

In the East, Kimberley is famous for its diamond-mining past and is still a centre for mining and cutting diamonds. Alluvial diamonds are extracted from the beaches and the sea between Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth.

The Northern Cape province produces almost all of the manganese mined in South Africa.

The Sishen Mine near Kathu is the biggest source of iron ore in South Africa, while the copper mine in Okiep is one of the oldest mines in the country. Copper mining also takes place in Aggeneys and Springbok.

The Northern Cape also has fertile agricultural land around the Orange River which is also used for irrigation, especially at Upington, Keimoes, and Kakamas, where grapes and various fruits like peaches, oranges, and watermelons are cultivated.

Keimoes is also famous for producing sultanas which are exported around the world.

The Northern Cape is responsible for nearly 12% of all the wine produced in South Africa with the Hartswater region being South Africa’s northernmost wine region.

Maize, groundnuts, wheat, cotton, lucerne, and fruit are also produced at the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme near Warrenton.

The Namaqualand region in the west is famous for its Namaqualand daisies.

Extensive sheep farming is the heart of the economy in the southern Karoo areas of the province, while cattle, and pig farming as well as horse breeding are also done in the province.

The Orange River which flows through the province, forming the borders with the Free State in the southeast and Namibia to the northwest also attracts tourists who enjoy rafting tours around Vioolsdrif.

The Northern Cape also includes part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, an international park shared with Botswana. It also includes the Augrabies Falls National Park.

The southern towns of Colesberg and De Aar located within the Great Karoo are major transport nodes between Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Gqeberha.

Kuruman can be found in the north-east and is known as a mission station. It is also well known for its artesian spring and Eye of Kuruman.

The Northern Cape has a total of 31 municipalities, it is divided into five district municipalities which are in turn divided into 26 local municipalities.

District municipalities

NameCodeSeatArea (km²)
Frances Baard District MunicipalityDC9Kimberley12,836
John Taolo Gaetsewe District MunicipalityDC45Kuruman27,322
Namakwa District MunicipalityDC6Springbok126,836
Pixley ka Seme District MunicipalityDC7De Aar103,411
ZF Mgcawu District MunicipalityDC8Upington102,484

Local municipalities

NameCodeDistrictSeatArea (km²)
Dikgatlong Local MunicipalityNC092Frances BaardBarkly West7,316
Magareng Local MunicipalityNC093Frances BaardWarrenton1,546
Phokwane Local MunicipalityNC094Frances BaardHartswater828
Sol Plaatje Local MunicipalityNC091Frances BaardKimberley3,145
Gamagara Local MunicipalityNC453John Taolo GaetseweKathu2,648
Ga-Segonyana Local MunicipalityNC452John Taolo GaetseweKuruman4,495
Joe Morolong Local MunicipalityNC451John Taolo GaetseweMothibistad20,180
Hantam Local MunicipalityNC065NamakwaCalvinia39,085
Kamiesberg Local MunicipalityNC064NamakwaGaries14,208
Karoo Hoogland Local MunicipalityNC066NamakwaWilliston30,230
Khâi-Ma Local MunicipalityNC067NamakwaPofadder15,715
Nama Khoi Local MunicipalityNC062NamakwaSpringbok17,990
Richtersveld Local MunicipalityNC061NamakwaPort Nolloth9,608
Emthanjeni Local MunicipalityNC073Pixley Ka SemeDe Aar13,472
Kareeberg Local MunicipalityNC074Pixley Ka SemeCarnarvon17,701
Renosterberg Local MunicipalityNC075Pixley Ka SemePetrusville5,529
Siyancuma Local MunicipalityNC078Pixley Ka SemeDouglas16,753
Siyathemba Local MunicipalityNC077Pixley Ka SemePrieska14,727
Thembelihle Local MunicipalityNC076Pixley Ka SemeHopetown8,023
Ubuntu Local MunicipalityNC071Pixley Ka SemeVictoria West20,393
Umsobomvu Local MunicipalityNC072Pixley Ka SemeColesberg6,813
!Kheis Local MunicipalityNC084ZF MgcawuGroblershoop11,107
Dawid Kruiper Local MunicipalityNC087ZF MgcawuUpington44,231
Kai !Garib Local MunicipalityNC082ZF MgcawuKakamas26,377
Kgatelopele Local MunicipalityNC086ZF MgcawuDaniëlskuil2,478
Tsantsabane Local MunicipalityNC085ZF MgcawuPostmasburg18,290

List of South African Municipalities under Administration