Cape Town is a very vibrant and beautiful city. It is the second most populous urban area in South Africa, the first being Johannesburg. You’ll be able to find all sorts of activities to do here – whether you want to relax on white sand beaches, party in night clubs, or go shopping at the Waterfront. This city is one of the most beautiful regions in the world as it is a rare cultural gem. Read on to find out more information about Cape Town in terms of the weather, employment, schools, housing, and more.
Weather¹,²
In Cape Town, the hottest month of the year is February, with the average temperature of 23 degrees. The coldest month is June, with the temperature of 13 degrees. The most daily sunshine hours are in December, with 11.05 hours. However, the number of hours of sunshine Cape Town receives is 3,100. July is considered to be the wettest month of the year with an average of 100mm rain.
Employment³,⁷,⁸
South Africa has the largest economy on the African continent and Cape Town is South Africa’s fastest growing city. The main industries are mining, industrials, and IT. However, because there isn’t enough expertise locally to fill up these industries, majority of the jobs in these sectors are filled by international professionals. The professionals that are identified to be in great demand are engineers, teachers, medical staff, and IT specialists. If you are relocating to South Africa, you will need a work permit in order to work there or find a job in Cape Town.
There are several factors that contribute to the gross domestic product and keep the economy running including manufacturing, financial, tourism, mining, communications, and agriculture. Below is some information regarding the sectors:
Manufacturing: South Africa has built and expanded a manufacturing base that has demonstrated its versatility and potential to go against the competitors on an international level. The manufacturing sector gives an arrangement for developing other activities such as creating employment and strengthening the finances. The manufacturing sector contributed 15.2% to South Africa’s GDP in 2013, making it the third-biggest support of the country’s economy.
Financial: The South African banking system is well-developed and viably controlled. It consists of financially strong banks as well as investment institutions in addition to various smaller banks. This is a growing industry as numerous foreign banks and other investment institutions, in the previous decade, have placed operations in South Africa.
Tourism: It was predicted that in 2010 and the years after, the South Africa tourism industry would employ more than 1.2 million people. Tourism is regarded as a modern-day requirement for growth; and therefore, it is currently the largest industry internationally. Tourism has been reserved as a developmental industry in South Africa as the industry is known to increase the value of the nation’s various natural, cultural, and other significant resources.
Information and communications technology: This sector in South Africa is the largest and most advanced in Africa. This network is 99.9% digital and has the latest wireless and satellite communication, making it the most developed telecoms network in Africa.
International Schools⁴
International schools are a popular choice for people relocating to Cape Town with children. Most of these schools have high standards with teaching staff that deliver the core curriculum. These international schools allow the children to connect with others from diverse countries and cultural backgrounds. The fees vary but are reasonably comparable to the regular domestic private schools in Cape Town, South Africa.
Below is a list of all the international schools in Cape Town:
American International School of Cape Town
www.aisct.org
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: International
Ages: 2 to 18
Reddam House Durbanville (formerly Chester House)
www.chesterhouse.co.za
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: IGCSE
Ages: 1 to 18
Deutsche Schule Kapstadt
www.dsk.co.za
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: German
Ages: 5 to 18
L’école Française du Cap
www.ecolefrancaiseducap.co.za
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: French
Ages: 2 to 18
International School of Cape Town
www.isct.co.za
Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: British
Ages: 4 to 19
Hout Bay International School
www.houtbay.iesedu.com
Gender: IGCSE and IB
Curriculum: British
Ages: 3 to 18
Languages⁵
There are 11 official languages in South Africa. You may have often heard the term “rainbow nation” to describe South Africa because of its cultural diversity. English is mainly spoken throughout the country; including in a business setting. However, it’s important to note that English is actually only the 5th most common language spoken. The first widely spoken language is isiZulu, with the second language being Nelson Mandela’s ‘home’ language, isiXhosa. If you only speak English, you have nothing to worry about since the majority of South Africans are multilingual so you’ll be able to have conversations with them!
Housing⁶
Cape Town is a popular property investment destination for many investors on the African continent. The average property prices for a regular 3 bedroom house is anywhere between 3 and 6 million ZAR. Depending on the location and other facilities within the house, this price can vary. The prices for property in Cape Town have been growing continuously and in 2016, the housing market grew over 16%. This ranked Cape Town after Shangai and Vancouver.
If you’re looking to buy a house in Cape Town, be sure to choose one with very good security or hire a security company. Many people do this for security and safety reasons. In addition, choosing a house with the windows facing north is an advantage for those who love the Sun, especially in the winter.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WE DO NOT INTENT TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN IMMIGRATION OR LABOR LAWYER TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR IMMIGRATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.
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Works Cited:
- M. (2016, June 08). Destination Cape Town. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/tourism-south-africa/travel/cities/capetown
- Cape Town: Annual Weather Averages. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2017, from http://www.holiday-weather.com/cape_town/averages/
- Jobs in South Africa | ExpatCapeTown Guide | Working | Find a Job. (n.d.). Retrieved May 09, 2017, from http://www.expatcapetown.com/jobs-in-south-africa.html
- International Schools in Cape Town. (2013, October 03). Retrieved May 10, 2017, from http://www.expatarrivals.com/south-africa/cape-town/international-schools-in-cape-town
- Eavelyn, H. (2014, April 17). What You Need to Know Before Traveling to South Africa. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/halle-eavelyn/what-you-need-to-know-bef_1_b_5156450.html
- Cape Town Housing Guide | Housing Market Overview | Cape Town Suburbs. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2017, from http://www.expatcapetown.com/cape-town-housing.html
- M. (2017, January 23). South Africa’s economy: key sectors. Retrieved May 15, 2017, from https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/investments-immigration/economynews/sa-economy-key-sectors
- Cape Town is SA’s fastest growing city. (2014, October 20). Retrieved May 15, 2017, from http://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/cape-town-is-sas-fastest-growing-city-1767603
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