Western Cape

Official name:  Western Cape

Area: 129.386 square kilometers
Population: 5,2 million
Capital City: Cape Town
Official Language(s): Afrikaans, English, Xhosa
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)

Regional Leader: Premier Helen Zille

Geography
The Western Cape is situated on the south-western tip of the African continent. There are approximately 4,2 million people, living in the province, the majority of whom are Afrikaans-speaking.

The Western Cape is bordered on the north by the Northern Cape Province, on the east by the Eastern Cape Province, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The Breede and Berg Rivers are major rivers of the province. The capital is Cape Town and other major cities include Stellenbosch, Worcester, Paarl and George. It is roughly the size of England or the US state of Louisiana.

Economy
The Western Cape makes the third-highest contribution to the country's GDP. With over 170 000 people employed in the clothing and textile industry, this sector is the single most significant industrial source of employment in the Western Cape. The official unemployment figure for the province is substantially lower than that of most other parts of the country. The province is a major centre of tourism for the country, with Cape Town and the Winelands being popular tourist destinations. 

The Western Cape recorded an economic growth of six percent during 2005.  The largest industries were the finance, real estate and business services industry, the manufacturing sector and the general government services sector.

GDP: 34,8 billion Euro (2008)
GDP per head:  6.589 Euro (2008)
Economic growth rate:  4,0 percent (2009)
Unemployment rate: 8,6 percent (2009)

Inflation: 4,6 percent (2009)

Politics

Since May 6, 2009, Ms. Helen Zille, former mayor of Cape Town and president of the Democratic Alliance (DA), is Premier of the Western Cape.
The Provincial Parliament of the Western Cape consists of 42 members who represent the various political parties. The Parliament oversees and controls the executive. In Cape Town the unique situation can be seen that all three levels of government (national, regional and local) have their seats in this city.