The second largest of the Eastern Cape’s six districts, Chris Hani is situated in the centre of the province, encompassing a landlocked area of approximately 37 100km² extending from Middelburg in the west to Elliot and Ngcobo in the east.
The district is largely rural with one central urban centre, Queenstown, which forms both the economic and administrative heart of the district. Topographically, it is characterised by semi-arid Karoo conditions in the far west blending to moist upland and mountain grassland in the east where it tapers into the mountainous Drakensberg region.
In keeping with its rural profile, the single largest economic activity in the district is commercial agriculture and forestry. However, the local economy also benefits substantially from community services and, to a lesser extent, construction, retail and manufacturing output.
Tourism promotion has become a major focus area in recent years, with the district benefiting from several nature reserves and game parks, most notably the Mountain Zebra National Park. In addition, numerous game farms are in operation throughout the area, with hunting an increasingly popular and lucrative value-add attraction.
Culturally, the district this year launched the much-anticipated Liberation Heritage Route (LHR), a joint initiative of the National Heritage Council and Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture. In various stages of conception and planning since 2005, LHR aims to preserve and promote the events, people and places which narrate the history of South Africa’s political liberation. The route was launched on 10 April in Sabalele Village in the Intsika Yethu municipal area, the birthplace of the late South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani, for whom the district is named. 10 April marks the anniversary of the day Hani was assassinated.
In addition to Hani, the district also lays claim to struggle heroes Walter Sisulu, AB Xuma, Clarence Makwetu, Matthew Goniwe and Bathandwa Ndondo.
Tourism
While tourism has not traditionally formed a big part of this district’s economic activity or its development initiatives, regional administrators and private developers are increasingly showcasing the area’s unique features. In addition to marketing existing attractions such as the Mountain Zebra National Park, various cultural and heritage projects are underway or in development which should reposition this region as an important link in the national heritage tourism chain.
Don’t miss
The ever-popular Schreiner House, dedicated to the literary legacy of the author of, among others, Story of An African Farm is situated at 9 Cross Street, Cradock.
After narrowly escaping extinction – there were only 91 in the 1950s – the Mountain Zebra is still endangered, but its protected status and zealous conservation efforts have seen the animal’s numbers climb slowly to about 1 200 worldwide. Of these, the biggest herds are resident in the Mountain Zebra National Park 12km outside Cradock. Other mammals found in the park include Cape buffalo, black rhino, eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest and gemsbok.
The Frontier Museum in Queenstown, originally built as a school, houses a fully rebuilt and authentically furnished frontier cottage, as well as the original 1921 British-built steam locomotive used during the royal visit of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret in 1947.
The Van Riebeeck Karoo Garden in Cradock features a superb collection and example of indigenous Karoo shrubs and succulents.
There are numerous excellent sites for viewing rock art, including at Denorbin, which has a 32m frieze, Sephton Cave and Mountain Shadows, all in the Barkly East region.
Economic activity
Chris Hani district’s local economy is driven largely by the commercial engine of Queenstown, where good veld quality and fertile soils contribute to booming agriculture and livestock farming. In the Middelburg and Cradock areas, as well as in the Karoo, farming activity is focused mainly on small stock, producing mohair, mutton and wool.
Apart from agriculture and farming, the community services sector is the dominant economic feature. There has, however, also been significant growth in the transport sector, which has expanded by close to 4.5% between 1996 and 2005. This is seen as an indication of the strategic location of the region’s major urban hub with regard to rail and road transport, and as a distribution centre for the former Transkei area.
The finance and manufacturing sectors have also seen encouraging development, growing by 3.8% and 3% respectively. Mining activity, once a sizeable contributor to economic output in the area, is in decline and no longer a significant factor.
Queenstown is the main manufacturing centre, while small-scale food processing is present in Cradock and Middelburg.
Two major government initiatives are currently underway to kickstart economic growth and job creation in the area.
The town of Cradock has been identified as one of five in South Africa to take part in a R3.2-billion bio-fuel project. It is envisaged that the Cradock plant will produce up to 90 million litres of bio-fuel a year from sugar beets.
The establishment of a bio-fuels industry is part of a new agrarian transformation plan for the province and one of the Eastern Cape's priority projects under the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (Asgi-SA), a government strategy to boost economic growth and reduce unemployment in the country.
The region also stands to benefit substantially from the Eastern Cape government’s Aloe Ferox Beneficiation Programme, which has seen the creation of a trial aloe ferox production plant, the development of which is ongoing.
Investment opportunities
Small-stock farming in the Karoo can be expanded through farm worker enterprises and can provide the wool, mohair and meat for small processing industries.
Sugar beet can be developed in the Fish River Valley around Cradock.
Forestry can expand in the ex-Transkei areas, with potential for a small wood products industry.
Minerals may have potential for development through the large Molteno/Indwe coalfield.
Wool and mohair in the Karoo and wool in the Transkei can be processed by small-scale craft industries into garments, providing a source of rural employment.
Furniture has a base in Queenstown and can expand further, drawing wood from the Amathole and Transkei forests.
Area: 37 111km²
Population: approx. 810 000
Municipalities:
Inxuba Yethemba – Cradock and Middelburg
Tsolwana – Hofmeyer and Tarkastad
Inkwanca – Molteno and Sterkstroom
Lukanji – Queenstown and Whittlesea
Intsika Yethu – Cofimvaba and Tsomo
Emalahleni – Lady Frere, Indwe, Dordrecht
Sakhisizwe – Elliot and Cala
Engcobo – Ngcobo
Tel: +27 (0)45 808 4600
Fax: +27 (0)45 838 1556
Executive mayor: Mafuza Sigabi
Municipal manager: Mpilo Mbambisa
