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  EASTERN CAPE IN A NUTSHELL:
 


POPULATION:
6, 4 million

LANGUAGES:
Predominantly Xhosa, and, English and Afrikaans

SIZE:
Second largest of South Africa’s nine provinces

LANDSCAPE:
Richly diverse with rugged mountains, lush forests, semi-arid Karoo vast lands, golden beaches, skiing slopes in winter and true African bushveld.

CLIMATE:
Moderate

MUNICIPALITIES:
Amathole, Cacadu, Chris Hani, Ukhahlamba, OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo. Independent of these is the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality which administers Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch.

MAJOR CENTRES:
Nelson Mandela Bay (the province’s largest city) and Buffalo City (South Africa’s only river port). Buffalo City falls into Amathole district.

TOURIST ROUTES:
Tsitsikamma Adventures, Kouga, Karoo Heartland, Frontier Country, Sundays River Valley, Sunshine Coast, Amathole Mountain Escape, Friendly N6 and Wild Coast.

ECONOMY:
Mainly manufacturing, followed by agriculture and government services. Five growth areas identified by the province as the core of its economic game plan include: manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, tourism, investment in infrastructure and investment in people.

MAJOR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS:
The Coega and East London Industrial Development Zones (IDZs). The Eastern Cape is the only province in South Africa to boast two IDZs.
 
Economic development, environment, investment opportunities, tourism and lifestyle.
 

Lifestyle: Homegrown

  
 
 
 70 powerful years 
 Eveready enters its 70th year with a double award, proving its Proudly South African status. More>> 
 Proudly Eastern Cape 
 Another prestigious national award has put Victoria Girls High School in Grahamstown at the head of the class. More>> 
 Aspen fights AIDS 
 Aspen Pharmacare, which has its primary plant in Nelson Mandela Bay and a second facility in East London, is the leading producer of generic medicines in South Africa.  More>> 
 Sweet success 
 With the presence of Nestle and Cadbury in the province, the local chocolate industry gives the Eastern Cape a sweet taste of success. More>> 
 The biscuit king 
 John Pyott’s little bakery in Port Elizabeth in 1885 was the start of a biscuit dynasty that gave South Africans such loved brands as Salticrax, Romany Creams, Iced Zoo, Provita and water biscuits. More>> 
 Scientist of the Century 
 Basil Schonland developed radar in Africa in 1939, launched Africa’s premier science council and was a world expert on lightning. He served as advisor to Field Marshal Montgomery in World War II, led atomic energy research in the UK and was knighted by the Queen.  More>> 
 Mohair Mojo 
 Mohair – the Eastern Cape’s ‘diamond fibre’ - is ruling global mohair markets. Recognised as producing the finest quality mohair in the world, Mohair South Africa leads the global market with a 58% share of world production. Claire Fulton More>> 
 Face of Fresh 
 Doo Be Doo singer Zolani Mahola brings a natural exuberance and depth of feeling to Freshlyground’s performances. As the fresh face of South African music, she is also grounded in the rhythm of the Eastern Cape. SHARON THOMPSON  More>> 
 Shweshwe chic 
 Shweshwe – the ethnic-print “indigo cloth” synonymous with traditional black South African dress – has slaves, German settlers, King Moshoeshoe and the catwalks of New York woven into its story. Now, emerging Eastern Cape farmers and a cotton initiative have moved this “national heritage item” into the wholly-Eastern Cape arena.  More>> 
 Cellular success story 
 Alan Knott-Craig, CEO of Vodacom – South Africa’s leading cellular network, attributes much of who he is to the Eastern Cape.  More>> 

 

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