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The Eastern Cape is a province
Provinces of South Africa

South Africa is currently divided into nine provinces. On the eve of the South African general election, 1994, South Africa's former homelands, also known as Bantustans, were reintegrated and the four existing provinces were divided into nine....
 of South Africa
South Africa

The Republic of South Africa, also known by Official names of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa....
. Its capital is Bhisho. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" homelands of Transkei
Transkei

The Transkei?which means "the area beyond the Kei River"?is a region situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is also the name of an Apartheid-era Bantustan corresponding to this territory....
 and Ciskei
Ciskei

Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. It consisted 2,970 square miles , almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province and possessing a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean....
, as well as the eastern portion of the Cape Province
Cape Province

The Cape of Good Hope Province was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa. It encompassed the old Cape Colony, and had Cape Town as its capital....
. Landing place and home of the 1820 settlers. It is partly the traditional home of the Xhosa
Xhosa

The Xhosa people are speakers of Bantu languages living in south-east South Africa, and in the last two centuries throughout the southern and central-southern parts of the country....
, and the birthplace of many prominent South Africans, such as Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the first President of South Africa of South Africa to be elected in a universal suffrage democratic election, serving in the office from 1994?99....
, Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki

Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served almost two terms as the second democratically elected President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008....
, Steve Biko
Steve Biko

Stephen Bantu Biko was a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. A student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population....
 and Charles Coghlan.

current premier of Eastern Cape province is Mbulelo Sogoni
Mbulelo Sogoni

Mbulelo Sogoni is a South African politician. A member of the African National Congress , Sogoni has been the List of Premiers of Eastern Cape Province since 31 July 2008 when he replaced Nosimo Balindlela....
 of the African National Congress
African National Congress

The African National Congress has been South Africa's governing party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in May 1994....
.

See also List of cities and towns in the Eastern Cape
List of cities and towns in the Eastern Cape

This is a list of cities and towns in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa....
The Eastern Cape gets progressively wetter from west to east.






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The Eastern Cape is a province
Provinces of South Africa

South Africa is currently divided into nine provinces. On the eve of the South African general election, 1994, South Africa's former homelands, also known as Bantustans, were reintegrated and the four existing provinces were divided into nine....
 of South Africa
South Africa

The Republic of South Africa, also known by Official names of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa....
. Its capital is Bhisho. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" homelands of Transkei
Transkei

The Transkei?which means "the area beyond the Kei River"?is a region situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is also the name of an Apartheid-era Bantustan corresponding to this territory....
 and Ciskei
Ciskei

Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. It consisted 2,970 square miles , almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province and possessing a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean....
, as well as the eastern portion of the Cape Province
Cape Province

The Cape of Good Hope Province was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa. It encompassed the old Cape Colony, and had Cape Town as its capital....
. Landing place and home of the 1820 settlers. It is partly the traditional home of the Xhosa
Xhosa

The Xhosa people are speakers of Bantu languages living in south-east South Africa, and in the last two centuries throughout the southern and central-southern parts of the country....
, and the birthplace of many prominent South Africans, such as Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the first President of South Africa of South Africa to be elected in a universal suffrage democratic election, serving in the office from 1994?99....
, Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki

Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served almost two terms as the second democratically elected President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008....
, Steve Biko
Steve Biko

Stephen Bantu Biko was a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. A student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population....
 and Charles Coghlan.

Law and Government

The current premier of Eastern Cape province is Mbulelo Sogoni
Mbulelo Sogoni

Mbulelo Sogoni is a South African politician. A member of the African National Congress , Sogoni has been the List of Premiers of Eastern Cape Province since 31 July 2008 when he replaced Nosimo Balindlela....
 of the African National Congress
African National Congress

The African National Congress has been South Africa's governing party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in May 1994....
.

Geography

See also List of cities and towns in the Eastern Cape
List of cities and towns in the Eastern Cape

This is a list of cities and towns in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa....
The Eastern Cape gets progressively wetter from west to east. The west is mostly semi-arid Karoo
Karoo

The Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. It has two main sub-regions - the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south....
, except in the far south, which is temperate rainforest in the Tsitsikamma region. The coast is generally rugged with interspersed beaches. Most of the province is hilly to very mountainous between Graaff-Reinet and Rhodes including the Sneeuberge
Sneeuberge

The Sneeuberge are located in the far western portions of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. They are the highest mountain range in South Africa outside the Drakensberg and stretch between Murraysburg of the neighbouring Western Cape, north of Graaff Reinet and almost to Cradock, Eastern Cape....
 (Afrikaans: Snow Mountains), Stormberge, Winterberge and Drakensberg
Drakensberg

The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu language, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti ....
 (Afrikaans: Dragon Mountains). The highest point in the province is Ben Macdhui
Ben Macdhui (South Africa)

Ben Macdhui is the highest mountain in the Eastern Cape Province province of South Africa.It was named after Ben Macdhui in Scotland....
 at 3001m. The east from East London towards the Kwa-Zulu Natal border is lush grassland with intermittent forest. This region, Transkei
Transkei

The Transkei?which means "the area beyond the Kei River"?is a region situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is also the name of an Apartheid-era Bantustan corresponding to this territory....
, is rolling hills punctuated by deep gorges.

Eastern Cape has a shoreline
Coast

The coast is defined as that part of the land adjoining or near the ocean or its saltwater arms. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the process of tides....
 in the south on the South Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
. In the northeast, it borders the following districts
Districts of Lesotho

|||}The Kingdom of Lesotho is divided into ten districts, each headed by a district administrator. Each district has a capital known as a camptown....
 of Lesotho
Lesotho

Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave ? entirely surrounded by the South Africa. Formerly Basutoland, it is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations....
:
  • Mohale's Hoek
    Mohale's Hoek District

    Mohale's Hoek is a Districts of Lesotho of Lesotho. It has an area of 3,530 km? and a population of approximately 310,000 . Mohale's Hoek is the capital city or Camptown , and only town in the district....
     - west of Quthing
  • Quthing
    Quthing District

    Quthing is a Districts of Lesotho of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,916 km? and a population of approximately 200,000 . Quthing, also known as Moyeni, is the capital of the district or Camptown , and the only town in the district....
     - between Mohale and Qacha's Nek
  • Qacha's Nek
    Qacha's Nek District

    Qacha's Nek is a Districts of Lesotho of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,349 km? and a population of approximately 110,000 . Qacha's Nek is the capital or Camptown , and only town in the district....
     - east of Quthing
Domestically, it borders the following provinces:
  • Western Cape
    Western Cape

    The Western Cape is a Provinces of South Africa in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the huge Cape Province....
     - west
  • Northern Cape
    Northern Cape

    The Northern Cape is a large, sparsely populated Provinces of South Africa of South Africa, created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up....
     - northwest
  • Free State
    Free State

    The Free State is a Provinces of South Africa of South Africa. The name is a popular contraction of the previous name the Orange Free State. Its capital is Bloemfontein which is also South Africa's judicial capital....
     - north
  • KwaZulu-Natal
    KwaZulu-Natal

    KwaZulu-Natal , often referred to as "KZN", is a Provinces of South Africa of South Africa. Prior to 1994 the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the Natal Province and all pieces of territory that made up the homeland of KwaZulu....
     - far northeast


Climate

Climate is highly varied. The west is dry with scarse rain during winter of summer, with frosty winters and hot summers. The Tsitsikamma to Grahamstown receives more precipitation, which is also relatively evenly distributed and temperatures are mild. Further east, rainfall becomes more plentiful and humidity increases, becoming more subtropical along the coast with summer rainfall. The interior can become very cold in winter, with heavy snowfalls occurring at times in the mountainous regions between Molteno and Rhodes.
  • Port Elizabeth: Jan Max: 25ēC, Min: 18ēC; Jul Max: 20ēC, Min: 9ēC
  • Molteno & Barkly East: Jan Max 28ēC, Min 11ēC; Jul Max: 14ēC, Min: -7ēC


Tourism

The landscape is extremely diverse. The western interior is largely arid Karoo
Karoo

The Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. It has two main sub-regions - the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south....
, while the east is well-watered and green. The Eastern Cape offers a wide array of attractions, including 800 km of untouched and pristine coastline along with some particularly splendid beaches, and "big-five
Big Five game

The phrase Big Five game was coined by big-game hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. The term is still used in most tourist and wildlife guides that discuss African wildlife safaris....
" viewing in a malaria
Malaria

Malaria is a Vector -borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. It is widespread in Tropics and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa....
-free environment.

The Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park

Addo Elephant National Park is an elephant park situated close to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and is recognized as one of the country's twenty national parks....
, situated 73 km from Port Elizabeth, was proclaimed in 1931. Its 743 km˛ offers sanctuary to 170 elephants, the last Cape buffalo and 21 black rhino of the very scarce Kenya
Kenya

The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest, with the Indian Ocean running along the southeast border....
n sub-species.

The province is the location of South Africa's only ski resort, Tiffindell
Tiffindell

Tiffindell, in Southern Drakensberg, South Africa, was established in 1993 to give South Africans an opportunity to ski near their homes and others to ski in Africa....
, which is situated near the hamlet of Rhodes
Rhodes, Eastern Cape

Rhodes is a hamlet or small village alongside the trout rich Bell River, at the foot of Ben MacDhui in the Drakensberg mountains of the north Eastern Cape, South Africa....
 in the Southern Drakensberg
Drakensberg

The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu language, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti ....
 on the slopes of the highest mountain peak in the Eastern Cape (3001 m).

The National Arts Festival, held in Grahamstown
Grahamstown

Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758....
 is Africa's largest and most colourful cultural event, offering a choice of the very best of both indigenous and imported talent. Every year for 11 days the town's population almost doubles, as over 50,000 people flock to the region for a feast of arts, crafts and sheer entertainment.

The Tsitsikamma National Park
Tsitsikamma National Park

The Tsitsikamma National Park is a coastal reserve on the Garden Route in South Africa. It is well known for indigenous forests, dramatic coastline, and the Otter Trail....
 is an 80 km long coastal strip between Nature's Valley and the mouth of the Storms River
Storms River

Storms River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located in the Tsitsikamma National Park....
. In the park the visitor finds an almost untouched natural landscape. Near the park is the Bloukrans Bridge, which is the world's highest bungee jump.

Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay

Jeffreys Bay is a town located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town is situated just off the N2 , about an hour's drive southwest of Port Elizabeth....
 is an area with some of the country's wildest coastline, which is backed by some of Africa's most spectacular sub-tropical rainforest. Famous for its "supertubes", probably South Africa's longest and most consistently good wave, it's charged with a surf vibe as relaxed as it is friendly, and this tends to soften the effect of the wealthy set who have made this part of the coast their own.

Aliwal North
Aliwal North

Aliwal North is a town in central South Africa on the Orange River, Eastern Cape Province. Aliwal North is the seat of the Maletswai Local Municipality which falls within the Ukhahlamba District Municipality....
, lying on a splendid agricultural plateau on the southern bank of the Orange River
Orange River

The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean....
, is one of the country's most popular inland resorts and is famous for its hot springs.

The rugged and unspoilt Wild Coast
Wild Coast Region, Eastern Cape

The Wild Coast is one of the four regions of Eastern Cape in South Africa.The Wild Coast is crossed by the N2 road . There is the Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve....
 is a place of spectacular scenery, and a graveyard for many vessels.

Economy

The Eastern Cape remains one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. This is largely due to the extreme poverty found in the former homelands, where subsistence agriculture predominates. The two major industrial centres, Port Elizabeth and East London have well-developed economies, based on the automotive industry. General Motors and Volkswagen
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Passenger Cars, also known as VW, is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany and is the original as well as the largest brand by sales volume within the Volkswagen Group....
 both have major assembly lines in the Port Elizabeth area, while East London is dominated by the large DaimlerChrysler
DaimlerChrysler

Daimler Aktiengesellschaft is a Germany car corporation and automaker as well as the largest truck manufacturer in the world. In addition to automobiles, Daimler manufactures trucks and provides financial services through its Daimler Financial Services arm....
 plant. The largest construction project in Africa is currently underway at Coega
Coega

The Coega Industrial Development Zone covering 110 km? of land , is situated in the Nelson Mandela Municipality, Eastern Cape province of South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality near Port Elizabeth....
, about 20 km north of Port Elizabeth, where a new harbour is being built. It is expected that this development will give the province a major economic boost.
Za Eastern Cape Language

Formation

The Eastern Cape as a South African Province came into being in 1994 and incorporated areas from the former homelands of the Transkei
Transkei

The Transkei?which means "the area beyond the Kei River"?is a region situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is also the name of an Apartheid-era Bantustan corresponding to this territory....
 and Ciskei
Ciskei

Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. It consisted 2,970 square miles , almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province and possessing a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean....
 as well as what was then the Cape Province. This resulted in several anomalies including the fact that the Province has four superior courts (at Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Bhisho and Mthatha) and enclaves of Kwa-Zulu Natal in the province. The later anomaly has fallen away with the amendments to municipal and provincial boundaries.

Municipalities

The Eastern Cape Province is divided into 38 local municipalities and one metropolitan municipality:
  • Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
  • Alfred Nzo Municipality
    • Umzimkhulu Local Municipality
    • Umzimvubu Local Municipality
  • Amatole Municipality
    Amatole Municipality, Eastern Cape

    #REDIRECT Amatole District Municipality...
    • Amahlathi Local Municipality
    • Buffalo City Local Municipality
      Buffalo City Local Municipality

      Buffalo City is a municipality situated on the east coast of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, at the coordinates of .It was established in 2000 after South Africa's re-organisation of municipal areas, and includes East London, South Africa, Bhisho and King William's Town, as well as the large townships of Mdantsane and Zwelitsha....
    • Great Kei Local Municipality
    • Mbhashe Local Municipality
    • Mnquma Local Municipality
    • Ngqushwa Local Municipality
    • Nkonkobe Local Municipality
    • Nxuba Local Municipality
  • Chris Hani Municipality
    • Emalahleni Local Municipality
    • Engcobo Local Municipality
    • Inkwanca Local Municipality
    • Intsika Yethu Local Municipality
    • Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality
      Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality

      Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality, formerly known as Cradock Local Municipality is a local municipality in Chris Hani District Municipality, Eastern Cape....
    • Lukhanji Local Municipality
    • Sakhisizwe Local Municipality
    • Tsolwana Local Municipality
  • O.R. Tambo Municipality
    OR Tambo District Municipality

    OR Tambo is one of the 7 Districts of South Africa of Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The seat of OR Tambo is Umtata. The majority of its 1 676 463 people speak Xhosa ....
    • Ingquza Local Municipality
    • King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality
    • Mbizana Local Municipality
    • Mhlontlo Local Municipality
    • Ntabankulu Local Municipality
    • Nyandeni Local Municipality
      Nyandeni Local Municipality

      Nyandeni Local Municipality is a local municipality in OR Tambo District Municipality in Eastern Cape province....
    • Port St. Johns Local Municipality
  • Ukwahlamba Municipality
    • Elundini Local Municipality
    • Gariep Local Municipality
    • Malethswai Local Municipality
    • Senqu Local Municipality
  • Western District Municipality
    • Baviaans Local Municipality
    • Blue Crane Route Local Municipality
    • Camdeboo Local Municipality
    • Ikwezi Local Municipality
    • Kou-Kamma Local Municipality
      Kou-Kamma Local Municipality

      Kou-Kamma Local Municipality is a local municipality in Cacadu District Municipality, Eastern Cape.The municipality code is EC109. As of 2007,...
    • Kouga Local Municipality
    • Makana Local Municipality
    • Ndlambe Local Municipality
      Ndlambe Local Municipality

      Ndlambe Local Municipality is an administrative area in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with its capital at Port Alfred. It is a predominantly rural area with agriculture and tourism dominating the economy....
    • Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality
      Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality

      Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality is a local municipality in Cacadu District Municipality, Eastern Cape. The seat of Sunday's River Valley is Kirkwood, Eastern Cape....

    External links