The Eastern Cape is often referred to as a world in one province. The second largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, it offers everything from snow skiing to sunny beaches, game researches to fascinating history. Located on the eastern most part of South Africa, an area of almost 170,000 square kilometres of diverse landscape is divided into six district municipalities and two metropolitan municipalities. The provinces seat of government is in Bhisho, Buffalo City Metro. The province has a very strong and distinct culture and heritage, a rich history from the vibrant and timeless Xhosa traditions.
The Eastern Cape was one of the first areas settled by the Portuguese in 1488 and by the British in 1820. It was the site of many wars between the local Khoisan and Xhosa’s as well as the British, Dutch and Germans. This rich cultural heritage has been preserved in some of the region’s smaller towns including Bathurst, Grahamstown and Cradock. Renowned as the birth province of globally recognised and respected liberation struggle icons like Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Steve Biko, O.R. Tambo, Robert Sobukwe, Goven Mbeki and the list goes on. These are people who not only created a lasting legacy for the Province but went on to change the course of history in South Africa. These facts and many other facts that are uniquely Eastern Cape assert this province as a Home of Legends. Eastern Cape Provincial Government The Eastern Cape’s capital is Bhisho which lies 60km west of East London. The provincial government discharges is duties through 13 government departments and state owned enterprises. Eastern Cape is boasts two of the most successful Industrial Development Zones in South Africa, the East London and Coega IDZ’s. Both are ideally situated for exports to world markets. The Eastern Cape economy is largely dependent on the automotive sector but has potential in areas such as chemical and petrochemicals, agriculture and agro-processing, capital goods, manufacturing, automotive and green industries. Education, Health, Rural development, land and agrarian reform, and food security are priorities of the provincial government, and the growth of the agriculture and agro-processing sector is strongly rooted in the Eastern Cape Provincial Growth and Development Programme (PGDP). The PGDP earmarks primary production of food and food products, and the addition of value to primary production by processing, manufacturing and creative marketing of food products Major cities East London: Economic hub of Buffalo City Metropolitan area Port Elizabeth: Largest economic centre; part of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area Bhisho: Seat of government
