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About Malmesbury
Situated in the heart of the Swartland, lies the town of Malmesbury. It is a town of
approximately 36,000 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa,
about 65 km north of Cape Town. The town is the largest in the Swartland (‘black
land’) which took its name from the Renosterbos (‘rhino bush’), an indigenous plant
that turns black in the warm, dry summers. The area is especially known for its grain
and wine cultivation as well as sheep and poultry farming.
Malmesbury fulfils an important urban niche in the region and the province. Its high
development potential can be attributed to factors such as its relative accessibility
along the N7 road/rail corridor, closeness to Cape Town, diversified economic base,
which not only accommodates agriculture but also well-developed industrial and
commercial sectors and supportive infrastructure. The widening of the N7 highway to
a dual carriageway from Cape Town and ultimately through to Namibia, has placed
the Swartland town of Malmesbury firmly on the map, having shortened the trip from
the Mother City by about a third, which considerably improves accessibility to and
from the town, making it even more attractive to professional first time and family
buyers who can commute to places of work in Cape Town while enjoying living in a
wholesome and secure country environment.
Large areas of agricultural land characterise the Swartland municipal area, and it
has the second biggest economy in the district, contributing R6.9 billion to the WCD
economy. Over the last five years, the Swartland area experienced an average
annual growth rate of 2.9 %, which is in line with economic growth in the district and
slightly higher than the provincial growth rate.
The high property values in the Cape Town Metropole and the attraction of a local
tranquil atmosphere are moving people to settle here and commute to Cape Town
on a daily basis. Malmesbury is home to a number of large companies, as well as
regional offices of provincial and national government departments.
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