Jobs in Upington

Afrikaans is the most widely spoken language in the Northern Cape, comprising 54.6 percent of provincial residents. The other three official languages of the province include Tswana (spoken by 35.7 percent of residents), Xhosa (4.5 percent), and English (2.4 percent).

According to the Northern Cape’s official provincial website, Upington’s economy relies heavily on three main sectors – agriculture, tourism, and the services industry. A lively informal sector is also present in the town. Because of its regional economic focus, the following companies have their head offices in Upington: the Oranja Co-operative, Karakul & Livestock Co-operative, and the Oranje Rivier Co-op Wine cellars.

A comprehensive list of businesses that actively trade in the region can be found here.

World Population Review advises that Upington currently has a population of 89 184, up from 54 596 in 2001, and 67 581 in 2011.

A decided benefit of living in Upington is the weather, which is generally referred to as a hot desert climate, with minimal rainfall (generally only 195mm per annum). Summers are long and very sunny, while winters are relatively short and mild. In fact, Upington has been described as the “sunniest location on the planet” for the three months from November to January each year, when highs of between 33°C and 36°C can be expected on a daily basis!

The humidity in the town is also very low, making the ongoing hot weather that much more bearable than some other places in South Africa. In summer, temperatures range from 17.8°C to 34.6°C, while in winter they range between a chilly 3.2°C and a pleasant 20.6°C.

The lifestyle in Upington is also appealing to many – it is the second biggest town in the Northern Cape after Kimberley, and its wide range of facilities and proximity to Namibia and the stunning arid landscape of the Kgalagadi, often means it is referred to as the “jewel of the North”.

The average salary in Upington is R205k per annum. Popular occupations include that of an operations manager, an administrative clerk, and an electrician – which pay between R67k and R549k per annum, depending on skillset and level of experience.

When it comes to companies that employ the most people in the town, the list includes PepsiCo Inc, Airports Company South africa, Broadband Infraco, the Department of Education, and Eskom.

Because of the increasingly digital nature of life today, your best bet when it comes to finding a job in Upington – or anywheer else in South Africa for that matter – is to search on a reputable and popular job portal, such as Executive Placements.

Enter the keyword related to the profession you are in, e.g. programmer, your relocation option, i.e. Upington, and then simply click on the orange box to find suitable employment opportunities.

You can also choose to upload your CV, for prospective employers to peruse.

Jobs in Johannesburg

Jobs in Durban

Jobs in Cape Town

If hunting, hiking, and/or sightseeing floats your boat: you’re advised to visit the Mighty Kalahari, and specifically the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park for game viewing extraordinaire. Spitskop Nature Reserve, located just 13km from Upington, also offers wonderful game viewing – and impressive bird watching, too. Don’t miss the Augrabies Waterfall, which cascades 60m downwards and was named by the Khoekhoe to translate as “place of great noise”.

For the culture vultures: be sure to pay a visit to the Kalahari Oranje Museum, which was built by the Reverend Schröder in 1875. Domestic items dating from that era, and articles relating to the history of Upington and the lower Orange River are on display; and the museum is also home to the life-sized monument of a donkey, sculptured in bronze by Hennie Potgieter, which symbolises the unselfish contribution made by this beast of burden in the quest to develop the Lower Orange River Valley during the pioneering days.

For the foodies among us: three venues may be of interest. They are:
• Skaapland Butchery Franchise, one of the most modern butcheries in the world that equals those of German technological standards;
• Oranje Rivier Co-operative Wine Cellars, the second largest co-operative in the world, offering visitors a unique range of natural and fortified wines, with both tastings and tours thrown in for good measure;
and
• SA Dried Fruit Co-operative, with a factory that covers an area of more than 2ha, processes and packs all of South Africa’s dried sultanas, and exports to countries that include the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, all of the Scandinavian Countries and Argentinia, from their cultivation areas along the lower Orange River.

A glance at Private Property will help to unpack the best of the tightly knitted suburbs positioned between Upington International Airport and the Orange River. Their real estate experts believe that whatever stage of life you may be entering, i.e. “starting a family, nearing retirement, or looking for a profitable investment opportunity”, Upington is sure to offer you a worthwhile property investment. This is as a result of the town’s plentiful landmarks, generous public amenities, and extensive range of commercial hotspots.

Suburbs closest to the airport (for pilots and others who travel for a living), include Florapark, Paballelo, Blydeville, Ooosterville, Middelpos, and Keidebees.

If you hope to be embedded in the best of what Upington has to offer from an entertainment perspective, look at places to stay in Mountain View, Hillside, Rosedale, Morning Glory, Belview and Progress.

Louisvale, on the other hand – which is positioned on the other bank of the Orange – is great for its proximity to schools and medical facilities.

Netpages provides a comprehensive list of top schools, that includes:

• Vela Langa Lower Primary;
• Lukhanyiso Primary, Simbruner Primary, Keidebees Primary, Primary School Cornelius Jansen, JJ Adams Primary, and Op Die Voorpos Primary;
• Rosendale Intermediate and
• Pabalello Secondary.

Game, Musica, Pick n Pay, Checkers, and Woolworths are just a few of the most well frequented stores in Upington’s town centre. Aside from the big names, there are also many clothing boutiques, small traders of all kinds, and chain stores to be explored for those needing a touch of retail therapy.

Further, the Kalahari Mall with its 70 stores lies on the outskirts of town, and continues to attract shoppers of all ages – both from within Upington and from much further afield.