Potential business sites identified

Brackenfell is one of the main biceps in the northern suburbs’ industrial arms, according to a new City of Cape Town study.

Gauging the location and nature of the industrial clusters across the metro, the study found Brackenfell Industrial had 557 businesses, while Blackheath Industrial and Kuils River Industrial had 464 and 261, respectively.

There’s a lower level of industrial activity in Kraaifontein, which has 59 businesses

The study also took stock of available land and buildings for business opportunities in the areas.

It found that there were several areas where new businesses could establish themselves as there was room for expansion to the existing business infrastructure, such as in Kraaifontein Industrial.

According to the study, Cape Town has 23 industrial areas made up of 5 557 erven or parcels of land that have a total of 7 229 businesses.

The survey had revealed each of the 23 industrial zones were quite unique in some ways but at the same time shared similarities, said Mayco member for tourism, events and economic development, Garreth Bloor, adding, “The survey further indicates that different types of business are located in each of the industrial areas and the available pockets of vacant land.”

Aside from the 23 individual industrial zones, there are two major business corridors, in the Metro South-East and Voortrekker Road corridors.

The Voortrekker Road Corridor, said the City, was made up of six industrial zones that are mapped across 1 487 erven. Of these, 146 erven are economically dormant.

The manufacturing sector dominates 39 percent of economic activity in this region.

There are 2 723 wholesale and retail and 2 318 manufacturing companies across the industrial zones.

The highest number of manufacturing companies (301) is in Montague Gardens, followed by Elsies River with 242 and Killarney Gardens with 241.

Montague Gardens industrial zone has the highest density business zone, with 1 198 different businesses spread over its 550 erven.

This is followed by Paarden Eiland and Killarney Gardens with 639 and 591 businesses respectively.

Industries producing basic metals, fabricated metal products and machinery and equipment account for 28 percent of manufacturing in the city.