Volume II - The Northern Cape Provincial Spatial Development ...

• The unbalanced character of the towns is rooted in their reason for existence (Table 4.3a).
The most prevalent economic base functions amongst the province’s towns are the
combination of Agricultural/Service centres (50%) and Mining (20%). These functions are
usually quite vulnerable to external economic forces and require special attention.
• It is significant that the lower Development Potential categories correlate with smaller
towns, while the larger towns demonstrate higher potential (Table 4.3c). In the case of
Human Needs distribution, the pattern is not so marked although there is a tendency for
the larger towns to be better off (Table 4.3b).
• Regarding the proposed Investment Type (Table 4.3d) it is significant that 54% of the 115
towns qualify for only Basic Service or Social Capital investment, as is suggested in the
NSDP (See Section 2.2.1). Only 31 towns qualify for Infrastructural Capital investment.
In Figure 3.8 they demonstrate clear signs of High Development Potential. Another 22
towns also qualify for consideration in this category, but their position may change
because of their ‘transitional status’ on the intersection point of the axes (Figure 3.8 and
Table 3.7). Actually, there are 34 towns in flux in this grey area. These towns have a
possibility of moving to any of the four quadrants in the short term if significant changes
in the towns’ profile should occur. Therefore, the town profile results should be verified
qualitatively and in consultation with local role players when investment decisions are
necessary.
(ii) MUNICIPALITIES
• The 32 municipalities of the province provide the spatial and administrative structure
within which the 115 towns operate at a regional scale.
• The average population size of the municipalities is 33 000 inhabitants, with only four
larger than 68 380 (Table 4.5). These are //Khara Hais, Ga-Segonyana and Moshaweng,
while Sol Plaatjie is the primary administrative seat.
• 26 (81%) of the units register Development Potential levels at the lower end, within Low
and Medium categories (Table 4.6b), while 11 (34%) of the municipalities are classified
with alarmingly High and Very High Human Needs (Table 4.6a).
• When all towns and rural areas in each municipality is evaluated for an appropriate
Investment Type it is disturbing that 19 (60%) of the units do not reach the required level
for Infrastructure Capital Investment (Table 4.6c), although certain towns within its
boundaries do qualify. The 10 municipalities located in the outright High Development
Potential quadrants (Figure 3.15 and Table 4.4) are crucial for future provincial strategic
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