Cabo Norte

Para otros usos, consulte Cabo Norte (desambiguación) .

Province of South Africa

Cabo Norte Noord-Kaap   ( afrikáans ) Kapa Bokone   ( Tswana )
Provincia de Sudáfrica
Escudo de armas
Lema (s):  Sa ǁa ǃaĩsi 'uĩsi (Lucha por una vida mejor)
Ubicación del Cabo Norte en Sudáfrica
País	Sudáfrica
Establecido	27 de abril de 1994
Capital	Kimberley
Distritos	Lista Namakwa Pixley ka Seme ZF Mgcawu Frances Baard John Taolo Gaetsewe
Gobierno
• Tipo	Sistema parlamentario
•  Premier	Zamani Saul ( ANC )
• Legislatura	Legislatura Provincial del Cabo Septentrional
Área[1] : 9
• Total	372,889 km 2 (143,973 millas cuadradas)
Rango de área	1 ° en Sudáfrica
Elevación más alta	2.156 m (7.073 pies)
Elevación más baja	0 m (0 pies)
Población (2011) [1] : 18 [2]
• Total	1,145,861
• Estimación (2020)	1,292,786
• Rango	9 ° en Sudáfrica
• Densidad	3,1 / km 2 (8,0 / millas cuadradas)
• Rango de densidad	9 ° en Sudáfrica
Grupos de población[1] : 21
•  Negro	50,4%
•  Coloreado	40,3%
•  Blanco	7,1%
•  indio o asiático	1,7%
Idiomas[1] [ enlace muerto ] : 25
•  Afrikáans	53,8%
•  Tswana	33,1%
•  Xhosa	5,3%
•  inglés	3,4%
Zona horaria	UTC + 2 ( SAST )
Código ISO 3166	ZA-NC
IDH (2018)	0,694 [3] medio · 6º
Sitio web	www.northern-cape.gov.za

El Cabo Norte ( afrikáans : Noord-Kaap ; Tswana : Kapa Bokone ) es la provincia más grande y menos poblada de Sudáfrica. Fue creado en 1994 cuando se dividió la provincia del Cabo . Su capital es Kimberley . Incluye el Parque Nacional Kalahari Gemsbok , parte del Parque Transfronterizo Kgalagadi y un parque internacional compartido con Botswana . También incluye Augrabies Falls y las regiones mineras de diamantes en Kimberley y Alexander Bay .

La región de Namaqualand en el oeste es famosa por sus margaritas de Namaqualand . Las ciudades del sur de De Aar y Colesberg que se encuentran dentro del Great Karoo son los principales nodos de transporte entre Johannesburgo , Ciudad del Cabo y Port Elizabeth . Kuruman se puede encontrar en el noreste y se conoce como una estación misionera . También es bien conocido por su manantial artesiano y Eye of Kuruman . El río Orange fluye a través de la provincia de Northern Cape, formando la frontera con el Estado Libre.en el sureste y con Namibia al noroeste. El río también se utiliza para regar los numerosos viñedos de la región árida cerca de Upington .

Los hablantes nativos de afrikáans comprenden un porcentaje más alto de la población en el Cabo Norte que en cualquier otra provincia. Los cuatro idiomas oficiales de Northern Cape son el afrikáans , el tswana , el xhosa y el inglés . Las minorías hablan los otros idiomas oficiales de Sudáfrica y algunas personas hablan idiomas indígenas como el nama y el khwe .

El lema provincial, Sa ǁa ǃaĩsi 'uĩsi ("Vamos a una vida mejor"), está en el idioma Nǀu del pueblo Nǁnǂe (ǂKhomani). Fue pronunciada en 1997 por una de las últimas hablantes del idioma, la Sra. Elsie Vaalbooi de Rietfontein, que murió desde entonces. Fue el primer lema registrado oficialmente en Sudáfrica en un idioma khoisan . Posteriormente, el lema nacional de Sudáfrica , ǃKe e ǀxarra ǁke , se derivó del extinto idioma Northern Cape ǀXam .

Historia

Artículo principal: Historia del Cabo Norte

El Cabo Septentrional fue una de las tres provincias formadas por la Provincia del Cabo en 1994, siendo las otras el Cabo Occidental al sur y el Cabo Oriental al sureste. Políticamente, había estado dominado desde 1994 por el Congreso Nacional Africano (ANC). ^[4] Las cuestiones étnicas son importantes en la política de Northern Cape. Por ejemplo, es el sitio del asentamiento de Orania , cuyos líderes han pedido un Volkstaat para el pueblo afrikaner en la provincia.

El Cabo Septentrional es también el hogar de más de 1.000 san que emigraron de Namibia tras la independencia del país; habían servido como rastreadores y exploradores de las Fuerzas de Defensa de Sudáfrica durante la Guerra Fronteriza de Sudáfrica y temían las represalias de sus antiguos enemigos. El gobierno de Mandela les otorgó un asentamiento en Platfontein en 1999.

La historia precolonial del Cabo Norte se refleja en un rico patrimonio arqueológico , principalmente de la Edad de Piedra . Los sitios de cuevas incluyen la Cueva Wonderwerk cerca de Kuruman, que tiene una secuencia única y larga que se extiende desde principios del siglo XX en la superficie hasta más de 1 millón (y posiblemente casi 2 millones) de años en su capa basal (donde las herramientas de piedra , que ocurren en muy poco tiempo). baja densidad, puede ser Oldowan ). ^{[5] [6]} Muchos sitios en toda la provincia, principalmente en lugares al aire libre o en sedimentos junto a ríos o cacerolas, documentan viviendas de la Edad de Piedra Temprana, Media y Posterior . Desde tiempos posteriores de la Edad de Piedra, principalmente, hay una gran cantidad deSitios de arte rupestre, la mayoría de los cuales se encuentran en forma de grabados rupestres , como Wildebeest Kuil y muchos sitios en el área conocida como ǀXam -ka! kau , en el Karoo. Ocurren en colinas, pendientes, afloramientos rocosos y ocasionalmente (como en el caso de Driekops Eiland cerca de Kimberley), en el lecho de un río. ^[7] En la parte noreste de la provincia hay sitios atribuibles a la Edad del Hierro como Dithakong . ^[8] Los factores ambientales han significado que la expansión de la agricultura de la Edad del Hierro hacia el oeste (desde el siglo XVII, pero que data de principios del primer milenio d.C. en la parte oriental de Sudáfrica) se limitó principalmente al área al este de las montañas Langeberg, pero con evidencia de influencia hasta el área de Upington en el siglo XVIII. A partir de ese período, el registro arqueológico también refleja el desarrollo de una frontera colonial compleja cuando las formaciones sociales precoloniales se alteraron considerablemente y hay una huella cada vez mayor de "tejido pesado" de estructuras construidas, montones de cenizas, etc. Las minas de cobre de Namaqualand y la fiebre del diamante al área de Kimberley resultó en paisajes arqueológicos industriales en aquellas áreas que presagian la era moderna en la historia de Sudáfrica.

Government

Main article: Government of the Northern Cape

The provincial government consists of a premier, an executive council of ten ministers, and a legislature. The provincial assembly and premier are elected for five-year terms, or until the next national election. Political parties are awarded assembly seats based on the percentage of votes each party receives in the province during the national elections. The assembly elects a premier, who then appoints the members of the executive council. The premier of the Northern Cape as of 2019 is Zamani Saul of the African National Congress.

Political history

The politics of the Northern Cape are dominated by the African National Congress (ANC), but their position has not been as strong as in the other provinces. Initially, no party had an absolute majority. In 1994 the ANC's Manne Dipico became the first Premier of the Northern Cape after Ethne Papenfus, the sole elected representative of the Democratic Party (DP), voted with the ANC. In return, she was elected speaker of the legislature.^[9]

The ANC increased its voter share in later elections and has remained firmly in charge of the province after 1999. Dipuo Peters replaced Dipico as Premier in 2004. The official opposition in the Northern Cape after the 2004 elections was the Democratic Alliance, receiving 11% of the vote in the provincial ballot. The opposition's hopes of unseating the ANC has not had any success, even with the Congress of the People (COPE), a splinter party from the ANC, helping to split the vote in the election of 22 April 2009. Hazel Jenkins became Premier following the election, and COPE became the official opposition. Jenkins was later replaced by Sylvia Lucas in 2013.

The 2014 election saw the ANC returned to power once again with an increased mandate, while DA once again became the official opposition, after the collapse of COPE. The newly formed Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) also entered the legislature for the first time. Sylvia Lucas was re-elected to her first full term.^[10]

In the 2019 election, the Northern Cape was considered competitive. The opposition DA planned on taking over the province. The ANC returned as the majority party but the party's support had dropped. The DA was once again the official opposition with an increased seat total. The EFF made gains, while the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) won a seat in the legislature for the first time since 2004.^[11]

Geography

See also: List of cities and towns in the Northern Cape

A waterfall situated a few kilometres north of Nieuwoudtville on the road to Loeriesfontein, in the Northern Cape (Namaqualand region).

The Northern Cape is South Africa's largest province, and distances between towns are enormous due to its sparse population. Its size is just shy of the size of the American state of Montana and slightly larger than that of Germany. The province is dominated by the Karoo Basin and consists mostly of sedimentary rocks and some dolerite intrusions. The south and south-east of the province is high-lying, 1,200–1,900 metres (3,900–6,200 ft), in the Roggeveld and Nuweveld districts. The west coast is dominated by the Namaqualand region, famous for its spring flowers. This area is hilly to mountainous and consists of Granites and other metamorphic rocks. The central areas are generally flat with interspersed salt pans. Kimberlite intrusions punctuate the Karoo rocks, giving the province its most precious natural resource, diamonds. The north is primarily Kalahari Desert, characterised by parallel red sand dunes and acacia tree dry savanna.^{[citation needed]}

Northern Cape has a shoreline in the west on the South Atlantic Ocean. It borders the following areas of Namibia and Botswana:

• ǁKaras Region, Namibia – northwest
• Hardap Region, Namibia – far northwest
• Kgalagadi District, Botswana – north

Domestically, it borders the following provinces:

• North West – northeast
• Free State – east
• Eastern Cape – southeast
• Western Cape – south and southwest

Rivers

The major river system is the Orange (or Gariep) River Basin, draining the interior of South Africa westwards into the Atlantic Ocean. (The political philosopher Neville Alexander has used the idea of the 'Garieb' as a metaphor for nationhood in South Africa, a flowing together, in preference to the rainbow metaphor where the diverse colours remain distinct).^[12]The principal tributary of the Orange is the Vaal River, which flows through part of the Northern Cape from the vicinity of Warrenton. The Vaal, in turn, has tributaries within the province: the Harts River and the Riet River, which has its own major tributary, the Modder River.

Above the Orange-Vaal confluence, the Seekoei River drains part of the northeastern Karoo into the Orange River above the Vanderkloof Dam. Next downstream from the Orange-Vaal confluence is the Brak River, which flows nonperennially from the south and is in turn fed by the Ongers River, rising in the vicinities of Hanover and Richmond respectively. Along the Orange River near the town of Kakamas, the Hartebeest River drains the central Karoo. Above Kenhardt the Hartebeest is known as the Sak River, which has its source on the northern side of the escarpment, southeast of Williston. Further downstream from Kakamas, below the Augrabies Falls, and seldom actually flowing into the Orange River, is the Molopo River, which comes down from the Kalahari in the north. With its tributary, the Nossob River, it defines part of the international boundary between South Africa and Botswana. Further tributaries of the Molopo River include the Kuruman River, fed by the Moshaweng River and Kgokgole River, and the Matlhwaring River. Flowing west into the Atlantic, in Namaqualand, is the Buffels River and, further south, the Groen River.^{[citation needed]}

Climate

Windmills in Namaqualand, Northern Cape

Mostly arid to semiarid, few areas in the province receive more than 400 mm (16 in) of rainfall per annum and the average annual rainfall over the province is 202 mm (8.0 in).^[13] Rainfall generally increases from west to east from a minimum average of 20 mm (0.79 in) to a maximum of 540 mm (21 in) per year. The west experiences most rainfall in winter, while the east receives most of its moisture from late summer thunderstorms. Many areas experience extreme heat, with the hottest temperatures in South Africa measured along the Namibian border. Summers maximums are generally 30 °C (86 °F) or higher, sometimes higher than 40 °C (104 °F). Winters are usually frosty and clear, with southern areas sometimes becoming bitterly cold, such as Sutherland, which often receives snow and temperatures occasionally drop below the −10 °C (14 °F) mark.

• Kimberley averages: January maximum: 33 °C (91 °F) (min: 18 °C (64 °F)), June maximum: 18 °C (64 °F) (min: 3 °C (37 °F)), annual precipitation: 414 mm (16.3 in)
• Springbok averages: January maximum: 30 °C (86 °F) (min: 15 °C (59 °F)), July maximum: 17 °C (63 °F) (min: 7 °C (45 °F)), annual precipitation: 195 mm (7.7 in)
• Sutherland averages: January maximum: 27 °C (81 °F) (min: 9 °C (48 °F)), July maximum: 13 °C (55 °F) (min: −3 °C (27 °F)), annual precipitation: 237 mm (9.3 in)

Municipalities

Main article: List of municipalities in the Northern Cape

Northern Cape districts and local municipalities

Sign along R354 welcoming motorists into the Northern Cape from the Western Cape. The sign is in Afrikaans (top left), English (bottom left), Tswana (top right), and Xhosa (bottom right)

The Northern Cape Province is divided into five district municipalities. The district municipalities are in turn divided into 27 local municipalities:

District municipalities

• Frances Baard District
  • Sol Plaatje
  • Dikgatlong
  • Magareng
  • Phokwane
• John Taolo Gaetsewe District
  • Moshaweng
  • Ga-Segonyana
  • Gamagara
• Namakwa District
  • Richtersveld
  • Nama Khoi
  • Kamiesberg
  • Hantam
  • Karoo Hoogland
  • Khâi-Ma
• Pixley ka Seme District
  • Ubuntu
  • Umsobomvu
  • Emthanjeni
  • Kareeberg
  • Renosterberg
  • Thembelihle
  • Siyathemba
  • Siyancuma
• ZF Mgcawu District (formerly Siyanda)
  • Kai !Garib
  • Dawid Kruiper
  • !Kheis
  • Tsantsabane
  • Kgatelopele

Cities and towns

Main article: List of cities and towns in the Northern Cape

Springbok viewed from the old cemetery

Population 50,000+

• Kimberley
• Upington

Population 10,000+

• Douglas
• Barkly West
• Colesberg
• De Aar
• Jan Kempdorp
• Kathu
• Kuruman
• Postmasburg
• Prieska
• Springbok
• Victoria West
• Warrenton

Population < 10,000

• Orania
• Carnarvon
• Garies
• Griekwastad
• Groblershoop
• Hartswater
• Keimoes
• Kakamas
• Pofadder
• Port Nolloth
• Strydenburg
• Sutherland
• Vanderkloof

Economy of the Northern Cape

See also: Economy of the Northern Cape

As reported by the Northern Cape Provincial Government, unemployment still remains a big issue in the province. Unemployment was reported to be at 24.9% during Q4, 2013. Unemployment also declined from 119,000 in Q4, 2012 to 109,000 in Q4, 2013.^[14]

The Northern Cape is also home to the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), which is located 75 km North-West of Carnarvon.

The economy of the Northern Cape relies heavily on two sectors, mining and agriculture, which employ 57% (Tertiary Sector) of all employees in the province.^{[citation needed]}

See also: Northern Cape wine

Most famous for the diamond mines around Kimberley, it also has mining activities for Manganese and iron ore.

The Northern Cape also has a substantial agricultural area around the Orange River, including most of South Africa's sultana vineyards. Some Wine of Origin areas have been demarcated. The Orange River also attracts visitors who enjoy rafting tours around Vioolsdrif. Extensive sheep raising is the basis of the economy in the southern Karoo areas of the province.

Demographics

Population density in the Northern Cape

•   <1 /km²
•   1–3 /km²
•   3–10 /km²
•   10–30 /km²
•   30–100 /km²
•   100–300 /km²
•   300–1000 /km²
•   1000–3000 /km²
•   >3000 /km²

Dominant home languages in the Northern Cape

•   Afrikaans
•   English
•   Xhosa
•   Tswana
•   No language dominant

About 68% of the population are first-language Afrikaans speakers, other primary languages being Setswana, Xhosa and English.^{[citation needed]} To the extent that apartheid-era population classification persists, the majority of the Northern Cape population is characterised as Coloured.^[15]

People who self-identify as San people, some of whom retain distinct indigenous cultural elements such as Khoisan languages, but no longer subsist by hunting and gathering, live in the Northern Cape.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Northern Cape Provincial Legislature
• Griqualand West
• List of Speakers of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature

References

1. Census 2011: Census in brief (PDF). Pretoria: Statistics South Africa. 2012. ISBN 9780621413885. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 May 2015.
2. Mid-year population estimates, 2020 (PDF) (Report). Statistics South Africa. 9 July 2020. p. 2. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
3. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
4. sahoboss (31 March 2011). "Northern Cape". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
5. Beaumont, P.B.; Vogel, J.C. (2006). "On a timescale for the past million years of human history in central South Africa". South African Journal of Science (102): 217–228. hdl:10204/1944.
6. Chazan, Michael; Ron, Hagai; Matmon, Ari; Porat, Naomi; Goldberg, Paul; Yates, Royden; Avery, Margaret; Sumner, Alexandra; Horwitz, Liora Kolska (2008). "Radiometric dating of the Earlier Stone Age sequence in Excavation I at Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa: preliminary results". Journal of Human Evolution. 55 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2008.01.004. ISSN 0047-2484. PMID 18501953.
7. Parkington, J. Morris, D. & Rusch, N. 2008. Karoo rock engravings. Clanwilliam: Krakadouw Trust
8. Morris, D. & Beaumont, P. 2004. Archaeology in the Northern Cape: some key sites. Kimberley: McGregor Museum.
9. Sunday Times. 8 May 1994. The country's legislators vow they will serve new SA
10. De Wet, Phillip (8 May 2014). "Elections: DA, EFF demolish Cope in Northern Cape". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
11. Mahlati, Zintle (10 May 2019). "ANC retains North West, Northern Cape with reduced majorities". IOL. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
12. Alexander, Neville. 2002. An ordinary country, pp 106–107
13. Dent, M.C., Lynch, S.D. & Schulze, R.E. 1989. Mapping Mean Annual and Other Rainfall Statistics over Southern Africa. Water Research Commission, Petoria. WRC Report 109/1/89.
14. http://economic.ncape.gov.za/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=3&Itemid=365
15. "A Profile of the Northern Cape Province: Demographics, Poverty, Income, Inequality and Unemployment from 2000 till 2007 (archived copy)" (PDF). PROVIDE project. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.

External links

• Northern Cape Tourism
• NC Provincial Government

Coordinates: 30°S 22°E / 30°S 22°E / -30; 22