Cape Mosaic

Русский                                     EASTERN CAPE: LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES

Location. The Eastern Cape stretches along some 800km of the south-eastern shores of South Africa. The vast interior of the province ranges from the dry Karoo in the west, where small towns can be more than 100km apart, to the rolling hills and cascading rivers of the Transkei in the east. The Eastern Cape borders the Western Cape, the Northern Cape, the Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, and the small mountain country of Lesotho in the north.

Population. The Eastern Cape is the second largest of South Africa’s nine provinces. Some 65% of the province’s 6.9-million people live in rural areas; most of the remaining population live and work in towns and cities, especially the two main cities of Port Elizabeth and East London.

Climate. The Eastern Cape also has more ‘sunshine’ days than any other South African province – more than 300 out of 365 days are sunny. Along the coastal areas, the climate is mild warm temperate to sub-tropical. The deeper inland areas are in stark contrast to the stable climate of the coast. In the Karoo, summers are hot and dry, and frost is common during the winter months.

Nature. South Africa is a land of great diversity, a world in one country. The Eastern Cape holds all that South Africa has to offer – all in one province. It contains all seven of South Africa’s biomes or ecological zones, and offers an unrivalled range of climates, landscapes and cultures.

Economy. The Eastern Cape economy is increasingly modern and export oriented, with great potential for growth of existing industry and establishment of new industry. Its geographic location, quality sea and air ports, abundance of natural resources and world-class infrastructure bodes particularly well for the growth of export-oriented industry. The economic growth has been attributed mostly to the Eastern Cape’s strong Automotive and Components Sector, but also to contributions from food processing, textiles and clothing, chemicals and machinery products.  Construction activity, meanwhile, reflects both industrial growth and infrastructure investment. According to the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), the growth in construction in the province was estimated to be 11.3% in 2006, 10.1% in 2005 and 8.8% in 2004.

Investment opportunities. Government is ensuring the environment is attractive to investors. Two sophisticated IDZs were established, at Coega and East London. Both have been granted operators’ permits, and investment is flowing in. Both are next to airports and seaports, and have direct road and rail links. Both IDZs are developing automotive production clusters linked to the strong and expanding industry already established in the Eastern Cape. The Coega and East London IDZs offer sophisticated infrastructure; low land costs; easy access to skilled and competitively-priced labour; low energy costs; fast-track construction; compliance with international quality, health and environmental standards; and a clustering of industries for efficiency and to reduce costs.

Infrastructure. Air infrastructure includes two national airports at Port Elizabeth and East London, an airport at Mthatha and 16 air strips in small towns and rural areas owned by municipalities or the private sector. The ports of Port Elizabeth and East London are growing rapidly in line with South Africa’s strong performance as one of the fastest-growing exporters in the world. The Eastern Cape now has a third port, the new deep-water port of Ngqura, linked to the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ).

 News: Eastern Cape

The Boardwalk’s major renovation Government officials, VIPs and staff members today gathered for the symbolic sod-turning ceremony that signals the start of the construction phase of the R1-billion expansion project at The Boardwalk, one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s most popular attractions. The new-look Boardwalk will include a five-star hotel boasting 140 rooms with its own health spa, fitness centre and heated pool, an international-standard, multi-purpose convention centre, a new smoking casino, the latest gaming machines, more retail shops, an 874-bay parkade under the new convention centre and hotel. It will also include the Boardwalk Multimedia Lake Spectacular, the largest musical water extravaganza South Africa has ever seen. Speaking at the ceremony, Emfuleni Resorts Chairman Bongi Siwisa said The Boardwalk project would make a significant contribution to job creation and income generation in the Eastern Cape (NMB Tourism) Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival, 22 to 25 April 2011. The four-day family fun festival will feature an astounding array of activities ranging from a World Cup Surf Ski race, World Inflatable Boat Champion-ships, a South African 'A' rated volleyball tournament, as well as the traditional Easter egg hunt.

The Grahamstown National Arts Festival,  30 June to 09 July 2011. Africa's largest and most colourful cultural event offers a choice of the very best of both indigenous and imported talent. Grahamstown's population almost doubles, as over 50 000 people flock to Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape for a feast of arts, crafts and sheer entertainment.

ABSA Kirkwood Wild Festival,  01 to 03 July 2011. Rated as one of the top festivals in the country, Kirkwood has something for everyone in the family - a special Kidz Zone for the youngsters, live cooking and other demonstrations all day, over 350 specialist stalls selling specialist wildlife-themed art, craft and décor items, as well as scrumptious treats.

SciFest Africa, in Grahamstown on 23 to 29 March 2011 is South Africa's national science festival held annually in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. It features over 600 events with more than 45,000 visitors.

The Eastern Cape Highland Gathering, in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, 20 March 2011, is a celebration of all things Scottish, including Bagpipes and Drums, Scottish Highland Dancing, Tossing the Caber and of course, Whisky.