Main Industries
Mining
This district was the richest mining region in the Northern Cape until a decline in mining employment and the near extinction of the asbestos mining industry in the 1980s. Today, minerals mined include manganese ore, iron ore and tiger's eye. The Sishen iron-ore mine is one of the largest open-cast mines in the world and the iron-ore railway from Sishen to Saldanha is one of the longest iron-ore carriers in the world.
Mining opportunities include:
- Extensive manganese deposits and possible new mining areas
- Pig iron smelter (Kathu)
- Manganese smelter (Hotazel)
- Small scale manganese mining where deposits are not suitable for large scale mining operations
- Semi-precious stone mining (Granite, Tiger’s Eye)
- Mining in industrial minerals such as clay, sand and salt
Agriculture
The rural land in the district is used extensively for cattle, sheep, goat and game farming. The area is well known for its good commercial hunting in the winter.
Agricultural opportunities within the district include:
- Beef cattle: meat processing
- Leather tannery and processing of leather into products
- Sheep farming: meat processing, wool, leather
- Fresh produce market, storage and packaging facilities
- Game farming: commercial game hunting, meat Processing, eco-tourism
- New technologies and methods of production etc.
Tourism
The district holds potential as a viable tourism destination. Attractions include:
- The Eye: the biggest natural fountain in the southern hemisphere, proclaimed a national monument in 1992
- Wonderwerk Cave: one of the longest-inhabited caves in the world, with San rock paintings in areas near its mouth
- Sishen Golf Club: Kathu is home to one of the most attractive golf courses in the country
- Khai Apple Recreation Resort: situated in the Gamagara Municipality, the resort offers outstanding accommodation, camping and caravanning facilities, fishing and horse riding
- Game hunting: old limestone farmsteads, a feature of the Kalahari landscape, have been converted into hunting lodges with excellent accommodation and game-processing facilities
- Moffat Mission: established in 1820 by Scottish missionary, Robert Moffat, in Kuruman, the mission church was declared a national monument in 1993
Tourism opportunities in the district include:
- Marketing of the hunting industry in the district
- Integrating hunting and eco tourism which can be beneficial outside of the hunting season
- Community tourism initiatives
- Arts and crafts
- Training of tour guides or hunting guides
- Mining tourism
- Agri-tourism
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