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.