The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the huge Cape Province. Prior to the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, it was called the Cape Colony.
In 1994, after the inauguration of South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela, the Cape Province was broken up into three provinces: Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape (which encompasses the former Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei).
The Constitution of the Western Cape was adopted in 1998 and is available in the official languages of the province: Afrikaans, English and Xhosa.
The capital is Cape Town and other major cities include Stellenbosch, Worcester, Paarl, and George. The Garden Route and the Overberg are popular coastal tourism areas.
The Western Cape’s total GDP is the third-highest contribution to the country’s total.
The median annual income of working adults aged 15-65 in the Western Cape is R 18,703 (US$2,811). Males have a median annual income of R 21,048 (US$3,164) versus R 17,035 (US$2,560) for females. The median annual income by race is R 12,213 (US$1,836) for Blacks, R 16,354 (US$2,458) for Coloureds, R 42,803 (US$6,434) for Indians/Asian), and R 64,968 (US$9,765) for Whites. The annual income distribution is:
No income 2.0%
R 12 – R 4,800 (US$2 - $721) 6.5%
R 4,812 – R 9,600 (US$723 - $1,443) 17.7%
R 9,612 – R 19,200 (US$1,445 – $2,886) 25.1%
R 19,212 – R 38,400 (US$2,888 - $5,772) 20.1%
R 38,412 – R 76,800 (US$5,774 - $11,543) 15.2%
R 76,812 – R 153,600 (US$11,545 - $23,087) 8.3%
R 153,612 – R 307,200 (US$23,089 - $46,174) 3.3%
R 307,212 – R 614,400 (US$46,176 - $92,348) 1.1%
R 614,412 or more (US$92,350+) 0.7%
The Western Cape is made up of one metropolitan municipality, and five district municipalities subdivided into 24 local municipalities.
City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality
West Coast District Municipality
Matzikama Local Municipality
Cederberg Local Municipality
Bergrivier Local Municipality
Saldanha Bay Local Municipality
Swartland Local Municipality
Cape Winelands District Municipality
Witzenberg Local Municipality
Drakenstein Local Municipality
Stellenbosch Local Municipality
Breede Valley Local Municipality
Breede River/Winelands Local Municipality
Overberg District Municipality
Theewaterskloof Local Municipality
Overstrand Local Municipality
Cape Agulhas Local Municipality
Swellendam Local Municipality
Eden District Municipality
Kannaland Local Municipality
Hessequa Local Municipality
Mossel Bay Local Municipality
George Local Municipality
Oudtshoorn Local Municipality
Bitou Local Municipality
Knysna Local Municipality
Central Karoo District Municipality
Laingsburg Local Municipality
Prince Albert Local Municipality
Beaufort West Local Municipality
Cape Town
George
Oudtshoorn
Paarl
Stellenbosch
Swellendam
Worcester
Bredasdorp
Ceres
Hermanus
Knysna
Malmesbury
Montagu
Plettenberg Bay
Riversdale
Robertson
Arniston
Elim
Napier
Struisbaai
|