GEDA is arguably the first Economic Development Agency in Africa to employ Geographic Information System in an attempt to define economic opportunities identified in Gauteng through Gauteng Opportunity Atlas. The atlas’s main objective is to provide spatial expression of economic opportunities in different areas around Gauteng using the Geographic Information System- which has traditionally been used for environmental science, engineering and land use/town planning applications. The Geographic Information System is an information system for capturing, storing, analyzing, managing and presenting data which is spatially referenced.

The opportunities mapped were derived from Local Economic Development strategies, Growth and Development Strategies, Integrated Development Plans, municipal promotion materials such as brochures and any other credible source. It is therefore envisaged that the Opportunity Atlas will assist relevant role players in the following areas:

• Inform proper land use planning within the province
• Ensure that land suitable for economic activities is allocated and reserved for that purpose
• Enable investment promotion to be area/regional based and specific
• Information tool for investors, developers and public sector officials
• Direct and inform public sector investments
• Showcase the locational advantages that Gauteng has, despite it being a landlocked province

The above key areas were achieved through the provision of spatial expression of economic opportunities identified through the LED strategies, Growth and Development Strategies, Integrated Development Plans etc. Specifically, the following information enables private and public investors to make an informed decision:

• Spatial expression of Gauteng in relation to South Africa and Southern African Development Community- it provides the location of Gauteng, major roads/corridors, railway lines that connect it with other provinces and Southern African Development Community countries.
• The atlas provides information on economic opportunities at a provincial level
• The atlas provides information on economic opportunities at a specific districts and metropolitan areas within Gauteng
• It provides information on infrastructure major roads, railway lines, gas pipes, airports, major railway stations, Gautrian Stations within the province.
• It identifies and distinguishes affluent and poverty stricken areas and skills development in different areas within the province
• Provides information on tourism attraction features such as game reserves, water bodies etc
• It provides information on mineral deposits and status of several mines in the province
• It also maps key economic sectors and activities and their locational advantages within Gauteng province.

Through the employment of GIS in defining economic opportunities within the province, GEDA is able to demonstrate that it is easier to do business in Gauteng. GEDA is also able to demonstrate that the rest of southern Africa, India, South America and the Pacific Rim could be accessed with ease and at a reasonable cost from a land locked province of Gauteng.
Thus Gauteng provides opportunities for investors who are not only targeting markets in Southern Africa and Africa but the other regions as highlighted above.

For more information please contact: Mbulaheni Charles Mphephu at 011 833 8750/083 560 5581
mbulaheni@geda.co.za

Recent initiatives in Gauteng province, such as the development of a Provincial Growth and Development Strategy, the vision of making Gauteng a globally competitive city region, the development and review of long term Metro and District development strategies, and the study of various land use, environmental and housing issues conducted by the Land Use task Team, all raised the importance of a need for a common spatial perspective of the province. Such a perspective, focusing on areas of economic significance and concentrations of poverty / need and the interconnections between them, will serve as a platform to guide and align infrastructure investment and development spending. The ultimate goal is to be supportive of economic growth, improved livelihoods, mobility and compact land use agendas in the next decade or more.

1. Introduction (681KB)
2. Gauteng Spatial Expression in South Africa (1.30MB)
3. Gauteng District and Local Municipalities (717KB)
4. Population Size and Demographics (1.80MB)
5. Gauteng Transport Infrastructure (1.40MB)
6. Electricity and Gas Infrastructure (809KB)
7. Mineral Deposits and Status (2.24MB)
8. Tourism Attractions (1.22MB)
9. Key Economic Sectors and Activities (1.25MB)
10. Growth Points and Economic Opportunities (2.77MB)
11. Closure (706KB)

Gauteng Economic Atlas (8MB)