ECS2609
ASSIGNMENT 3
DUE DATE: 15 APRIL 2026
, ECS2609 Assignment 3 2026
DUE 15 APRIL 2026
Discuss the secondary industry from 1910 to 1960.
1. Introduction
At the time of Union in 1910, South Africa’s economy was dominated by mining and
agriculture. Secondary industry (manufacturing) was very small, contributing only 5.6% of
GDP in 1911. The country was overwhelmingly an importer of manufactured goods, even
of basic items like cheese, butter, and bacon. The period from 1910 to 1960 marked the
take-off of industrialisation in South Africa, driven initially by external shocks and later by
deliberate government policy.The factors that both promoted and hindered
industrialisation are examined, along with the four key phases of its development, the
geographical concentration of industry, and the role of government, particularly through
protectionist policies and state-owned corporations.
2. Factors Promoting and Hampering Industrialisation
Promoting factors included:
Abundant cheap raw materials from agriculture and mining.
The mining industry acted as a leading sector, creating large demand for food,
materials, and equipment, and attracting capital, entrepreneurs, and skilled labour
from overseas.
Hampering factors included:
A small domestic market due to a limited affluent population, which made large-scale
production uneconomical.
Great distances, isolation from advanced industrial countries, and lack of cheap water
transport.
ASSIGNMENT 3
DUE DATE: 15 APRIL 2026
, ECS2609 Assignment 3 2026
DUE 15 APRIL 2026
Discuss the secondary industry from 1910 to 1960.
1. Introduction
At the time of Union in 1910, South Africa’s economy was dominated by mining and
agriculture. Secondary industry (manufacturing) was very small, contributing only 5.6% of
GDP in 1911. The country was overwhelmingly an importer of manufactured goods, even
of basic items like cheese, butter, and bacon. The period from 1910 to 1960 marked the
take-off of industrialisation in South Africa, driven initially by external shocks and later by
deliberate government policy.The factors that both promoted and hindered
industrialisation are examined, along with the four key phases of its development, the
geographical concentration of industry, and the role of government, particularly through
protectionist policies and state-owned corporations.
2. Factors Promoting and Hampering Industrialisation
Promoting factors included:
Abundant cheap raw materials from agriculture and mining.
The mining industry acted as a leading sector, creating large demand for food,
materials, and equipment, and attracting capital, entrepreneurs, and skilled labour
from overseas.
Hampering factors included:
A small domestic market due to a limited affluent population, which made large-scale
production uneconomical.
Great distances, isolation from advanced industrial countries, and lack of cheap water
transport.
