The Western Cape is a province of South Africa located on the southwestern tip of the country between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
It was created in 1994 from part of the former Cape Province.
It is bordered by the Eastern Cape in the east and the Northern Cape in the north.
The Western Cape covers an area of 129,462 square kilometres (49,986 square miles) making it the fourth-largest province of South Africa.
The Western Cape has an estimated 7,562,588 inhabitants (12% of the national population) according to the 2024 Mid-Year estimates by Statistics South Africa, making it the third most populous province in the country.
Cape Town, often called the “Mother City”, is the Western Cape’s capital and the largest city in the province.
Cape Town is also South Africa’s legislative capital and houses the Parliament.
Other major cities and towns include Stellenbosch, George, Worcester, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Paarl, Strand, Oudtshoorn, and Swellendam.
The Western Cape is topographically and climatically diverse. It has a temperate southern coastline fringed with mountains. To the north, it stretches deep into the Karoo, while the west coast is extremely dry.
The Western Cape is a world-famous tourist destination with its breathtaking scenery and wide beaches, complemented by a rich variety of cultures, historical landmarks, world-class restaurants, and entertainment.
The Cape Winelands, Table Mountain, Robben Island, and the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens are among the province’s most popular tourist attractions.
The Western Cape is rich in agriculture to the extent that the agricultural sector accounts for 60% of regional exports.
The Western Cape is also well known for its wine production, this is possible because the climate of the peninsula and the mountainous region beyond it is ideal for grape cultivation, with several vineyards producing excellent wines.
According to a study, commissioned by the SA Wine Industry Information and Systems, published in 2015, some 300,000 people were employed both directly and indirectly in the wine industry in 2015, including farm labourers, those involved in packaging, retailing, and wine tourism.
Other fruits and vegetables are also grown here, and wheat is an important crop to the north and east of Cape Town.
Meanwhile, sheep farming is the mainstay of the Karoo.
The province is also rich in fisheries with fishing being the most important industry along the west coast. Almost 75% of all South African fishing takes place along the Western Cape coastline.
The rich fishing grounds on the west coast are protected from exploitation by a 200 km commercial fishing zone and a strict quota system. Cape lobster, Snoek, abalone, octopus, mussels, calamari, and oysters are among the delicacies produced in these waters.
The province has a well-established business and industrial base, and the lowest unemployment rate in the country. Sectors such as real estate, finance, ICT, retail, and tourism have grown substantially, and are the main contributors to the regional economy.
Most of South Africa’s major banks and insurance companies are based in the Western Cape. The majority of the country’s petroleum companies and the largest segment of the printing and publishing industry are located in Cape Town.
The Western Cape has a total of 30 municipalities, it is divided into one metropolitan municipality and five district municipalities. The district municipalities are further subdivided into 24 local municipalities.
Metropolitan municipalities
| Name | Code | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality | CPT | Cape Town | 2,446 |
District municipalities
| Name | Code | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Winelands District Municipality | DC2 | Worcester | 21,473 |
| Central Karoo District Municipality | DC5 | Beaufort West | 38,854 |
| Garden Route District Municipality | DC4 | George | 23,331 |
| Overberg District Municipality | DC3 | Bredasdorp | 12,241 |
| West Coast District Municipality | DC1 | Moorreesburg | 31,119 |
Local municipalities
| Name | Code | District | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breede Valley Local Municipality | WC025 | Cape Winelands | Worcester | 3,834 |
| Drakenstein Local Municipality | WC023 | Cape Winelands | Paarl | 1,538 |
| Langeberg Local Municipality | WC026 | Cape Winelands | Ashton | 4,518 |
| Stellenbosch Local Municipality | WC024 | Cape Winelands | Stellenbosch | 831 |
| Witzenberg Local Municipality | WC022 | Cape Winelands | Ceres | 10,753 |
| Beaufort West Local Municipality | WC053 | Central Karoo | Beaufort West | 21,917 |
| Laingsburg Local Municipality | WC051 | Central Karoo | Laingsburg | 8,784 |
| Prince Albert Local Municipality | WC052 | Central Karoo | Prince Albert | 8,153 |
| Bitou Local Municipality | WC047 | Garden Route | Plettenberg Bay | 992 |
| George Local Municipality | WC044 | Garden Route | George | 5,191 |
| Hessequa Local Municipality | WC042 | Garden Route | Riversdale | 5,733 |
| Kannaland Local Municipality | WC041 | Garden Route | Ladismith | 4,765 |
| Knysna Local Municipality | WC048 | Garden Route | Knysna | 1,109 |
| Mossel Bay Local Municipality | WC043 | Garden Route | Mossel Bay | 2,001 |
| Oudtshoorn Local Municipality | WC045 | Garden Route | Oudtshoorn | 3,540 |
| Cape Agulhas Local Municipality | WC033 | Overberg | Bredasdorp | 3,471 |
| Overstrand Local Municipality | WC032 | Overberg | Hermanus | 1,675 |
| Swellendam Local Municipality | WC034 | Overberg | Swellendam | 3,835 |
| Theewaterskloof Local Municipality | WC031 | Overberg | Caledon | 3,259 |
| Bergrivier Local Municipality | WC013 | West Coast | Piketberg | 4,407 |
| Cederberg Local Municipality | WC012 | West Coast | Clanwilliam | 8,007 |
| Matzikama Local Municipality | WC011 | West Coast | Vredendal | 12,981 |
| Saldanha Bay Local Municipality | WC014 | West Coast | Vredenburg | 2,015 |
| Swartland Local Municipality | WC015 | West Coast | Malmesbury | 3,707 |
