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

ailway line connection, as well as the upgrading of the air strip in Springbok and the nearby
Port Nolloth harbour, could further enhance the connectivity and transportation infrastructure.
If a larger proportion of “drive-through visitors” can be converted into “overnight visitors”,
the tourist component and the town’s economic base could be strengthened. Facilities and
marketing campaigns should be initiated to persuade visitors to remain longer in the town.
This will lead to new economic vitality in the growing eco-tourism sector, utilising the unique
sense of place of the serene Namaqualand/Richtersveld with its distinctive topography, flora
and cultural attributes. The overall arid nature of the area resulted in large farms with a
sparsely distributed population over an extenxive area. This semi-desert situation however
also created one of the most significant biodiversity areas in the world, which can be
positively exploited for tourism and scientific purposes.
Taking all the evidence into account, Springbok has a very promising development potential.
The prospects for sustained economic growth and social needs development appear very
favourable. Most of the development factors support the town’s undisputed niche as a
regional urban centre for Namaqualand.
The vision of the Namakwa municipal district creates a positive framework for development:
“The establishment of a development-orientated and economically viable region to ensure
sustainable growth in order to establish, improve and promote committed strong local
structures, within the Namakwa region” (IDP, 2006: p6). Some of the public policy
instruments built in these initiatives are: Integrated economic development; Effective service
provision; Eradicating poverty; Private sector investment; Opportunities for local and external
entrepreneurs through partnerships; Black Economic Empowerment; Job creation and
infrastructure through LED initiatives; a SMME focus; skills and capacity building; Integrated
spatial development linking Springbok and Bergsig in a north-south corridor; etc. A
Shopping/Business Centre in Springbok is also in the planning phase for future development.
The following integrative summary provides a synoptic guide of the town’s development
profile:
• Municipality: Nama Khoi (Local) and Namakwa (District)
• Population size of town: 10 300 (2001)
• Population size of local municipality: 41 000 (2001)
• Economic base of town: Regional service centre (based on Agricultural/Mining/Tourism)
98