Western Cape Province

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 (and now defunct) Cape Province. Prior to the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 it was called the Cape Colony (see the History of Cape Colony).

Economy

The Western Cape Province?s total GDP is the third-highest contribution to the country?s total, at 14.6%. The largest industry is the clothing and textile industry, which employs over 170,000 people. The province also has a substantially lower unemployment rate than the other provinces; 17.1% of the working population is unemployed.

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The province is a major centre of tourism for the country, with Cape Town and the Winelands being popular tourist destinations.

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