Eastern Cape Business 2016 edition

SPECIAL FEATURE Port

SPECIAL FEATURE Port Elizabeth in 2015, while the 27MW MetroWind Van Stadens wind farm transported their nine turbines to their facility from the Port of Ngqura. The implementation of the Strategic Integrated Projects in the province is progressing well. The upgrades of the Mthatha Airport runway and apron are complete, with work nearing completion on the Mthatha Airport terminal building. The Mzimvubu Multipurpose Development Project is another impressive development that is comprised of a multipurpose dam to supply water for new irrigation development, hydropower generation and domestic water requirements in the Mzimvubu River Catchment. The proclamation of the Wild Coast Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has been identified as a key focus area in the coming financial year, with a prefeasibility study for the Wild Coast SEZ being approved in 2015. Investments in the Eastern Cape In the past five years the Eastern Cape has experienced local and international investment (actual and planned) of over R34-billion, and provincial government expenditure has increased substantially over the past five years, proving that the Eastern Cape is fast becoming an investment destination of choice for small, medium and large enterprises – both locally and internationally. Alfred Nzo District Municipality Towns: Matatiele, Mount Frere, Mount Ayliff The smallest district is located in the mountainous north-east, with hiking trails being an attraction for tourists. There is tremendous scope for expansion of tourist activities, and a transfrontier park between South Africa and Lesotho could boost the area’s economy. Subsistence agriculture and forestry are the major economic activities. Amathole District Municipality Towns: Cathcart, Stutterheim, Morgan’s Bay, Dutwa, Willowvale, Butterworth, Mazeppa Bay, Hamburg, Alice, Bedford, Adelaide, Hogsback The Amathole District is mainly rural in nature with a geographical area that surrounds the metropolitan area of Buffalo City. Pineapple and forestry are two of the most important agricultural activities. Popular resorts on the Wild Coast attract many tourists to the area. Hogsback and other towns near the Amatole Mountains offer beautiful scenery and popular beaches. The main campus of the University of Fort Hare is located at Alice. Sarah Baartman District Municipality Towns: Graaff-Reinet, Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, Grahamstown The western part of the province contains the biggest municipality and is one of the biggest contributors to provincial GDP. Large commercial farms in the Karoo produce high-quality meat, wool and mohair, while the coastal belt has dairy farming and some forestry. The Kouga Valley is a big deciduous fruit producer, while the Kirkwood/Addo area is known for its citrus. Sarah Baartman has three of the region’s national parks and several private game farms. Grahamstown hosts the National Arts Festival, Rhodes University and a number of fine schools. Chris Hani District Municipality Towns: Middelburg, Molteno, Dordrecht, Cradock, Queenstown, Lady Frere, Elliot Sheep farming is an important part of the economy. Some coal is found in the north and tourist activities include fly-fishing. The Foodcorp factory in Molteno manufactures Ouma rusks. Queenstown is a centre for cattle farming and has some manufacturing activities. The Mountain Zebra National Park is near Cradock. The Grootfontein Agricultural College and Research Station is in Middelburg, and the Marlow Agricultural College is near Cradock. OR Tambo District Municipality Towns: Mthatha, Coffee Bay, Port St Johns, Qumbu, Bizana, Flagstaff OR Tambo District Municipality encompasses some of the province’s least-developed areas, and contains one of South Africa’s most important ecological areas, the Pondoland Centre of Plant Endemism. Mining is already pursued in some areas, but plans to allow titanium mining on seaside dunes are being contested. A Wild Coast Spatial Development Initiative exists to plot further development. Forestry EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2016 12

SPECIAL FEATURE concerns are among the biggest employers. Joe Gqabi District Municipality Towns: Aliwal North, Burgersdorp, Lady Grey, Rhodes, Barkly East, Ugie Cattle and sheep farming make up 80% of land use, while commercial forestry is a big contributor to employment. There are large forestry plantations at Ugie and Mount Fletcher. Maize is grown along the Orange River and wheat in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains. Skiing at Tiffindell is a major tourist attraction, and has been bought by a Johannesburg investor with a view to restoring it. QUICK FACTS: Capital: Bhisho Major cities: Port Elizabeth / Nelson Mandela Bay and East London / Buffalo City Languages: 78.8% isiXhosa, 10.6% Afrikaans, 5.6% English Population: 6.9 million Share of total South African population: 12.7% The province’s population of 6.9 million makes it the country’s third most populous province, with about 15% of the national population. Sources: Eastern Cape Development Corporation (www.ecdc.co.za), SouthAfrica.info (www.southafrica.info) 13 EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2016