Spatial Perspectives on United Kingdom Investment in South Africa

Abstract

The geographical study of multinational corporations in Africa is a neglected area of research. In this paper the patterns of United Kingdom controlled enterprises in South Africa are examined from a spatial perspective. Spatially, enterprises are concentrated in the leading three metropolitan areas of which the national core area, the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging complex, is the most important. The overall pattern of United Kingdom enterprises is found to be positively associated with that of indigenous South African enterprises. It is suggested that observed spatial differentials between indigenous and foreign controlled enterprises primarily reflect differences in the structural characteristics of enterprises rather than differences in reactions to national space. The varying processes that shape patterns of foreign-controlled enterprise are illustrated by a case study of the changing geography of Lever Brothers manufacturing operations in South Africa.