Graaff-Reinet
The Karoo settlement of Graaff-Reinet is the Eastern Cape’s oldest town, but it is playing an important role in the province’s modern economy: in tourism, nature conservation and private game parks, and sheep and angora goat farming.

Many South Africans have a sentimental regard for the Karoo and see Graaff-Reinet as being at its heart; one of the town’s nicknames is ‘Gem of the Karoo’. Founded in 1786, the town was at one stage the administrative centre of one of the Cape’s districts. It was also once the rallying point of a rebellion against colonial authority, and although the local farmers retain a strongly independent strain, there is no doubting Graaff-Reinet’s connectedness to the rest of South Africa.

Situated on the N9, a major route connecting the coast to the north, Graaff-Reinet is 820km from Johannesburg, 668km from Cape Town and 254km from Port Elizabeth, the town with which it has closest ties.

It is through its connections with the Karoo – and Graaff-Reinet – that Port Elizabeth has come to be known as the mohair capital of the world. Together with Jansenville, Graaff-Reinet hosted the first International Mohair Summit in late 2009. The high-value mohair fibres that originate on angora goats are at the forefront of efforts to revive a specialist textile industry in the province. Similarly, the top-quality wool of the merino sheep is highly prized. Both are found in abundance on farms near Graaff-Reinet.

The town is located in a bend in the Sundays River and is surrounded by the Camdeboo National Park. Restoration of the town’s architectural treasures began in the 1960s with the active support of one of its most famous sons, Dr Anton Rupert. Today the charming town has more than 250 national monuments, more than any other town in South Africa. Several museums present the area’s history, which includes the story of the life of Pan African Congress leader Robert Sobukwe.
www.graaffreinet.co.za

Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth is the Eastern Cape’s largest economic centre. Together with the towns of Uitenhage and Despatch, it is administered by the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

Between them, Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth host many automotive manufacturers and related industries, sectors that will be further boosted by the establishment of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ). Port Elizabeth has considerable manufacturing capacity besides the motor industry, specifically in pharamaceuticals, food and beverages, and textiles and leather.

The city is well served by transport links. The port at the Coega IDZ, Ngqura, will supplement the good port already in the city centre. Port Elizabeth Airport connects the city to all regions in South Africa, and the city’s freeway system is extremely good.

Port Elizabeth has had considerable success in marketing itself as a tourist destination in recent years. This will be boosted by the fact that several first-round matches and a quarterfinal of the 2010 Fifa World Cup tournament will be played in the brand-new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Boasting pristine beaches along the vast Algoa Bay and excellent natural beauty within easy reach of the city – including Addo Elephant National Park, only a 40-minute drive away – Port Elizabeth has become a popular tourist destination situated at the start (or finish) of the famed Garden Route.

Hobie Beach has become well known as the site of several events such as triathlons and windsurfing competitions. Some of these, such as the Hobie Cat World Championships, have international recognition. Sailing, yachting, surfing and surf-lifesaving are among the other water sports actively pursued along the city’s shores.

For culture buffs, the city’s role in resisting apartheid is well documented at places such as the award-winning Red Location Museum.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) has several sites in the city and offers a wide range of academic courses. Academics at NMMU conduct research in areas relevant to the regional economy, for example in biofuels and forestry.
www.ibhayi.com
www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za

East London
East London is the biggest component of Buffalo City Local Municipality, which also includes Mdantsane, King William’s Town and Bhisho, the provincial capital. The Buffalo River gave rise to the origins of the city, in that the river mouth created good conditions for the establishment of a port. East London is, to this day, home to South Africa’s only river port.

The port remains at the heart of the region’s economy, ensuring that exports and imports are efficiently handled. East London is home to Mercedes-Benz SA, which is the largest employer in the district and sponsor of many local projects. The company’s sophisticated manufacturing plant produces C-Class vehicles for the US market, commercial busses and Mitsubishi Fuso trucks. A dedicated motorvehicle terminal at the Port of East London has a capacity of 100 000 vehicles per year.

Other industries that have a presence in East London include textiles, clothing, healthcare, packaging, pharmaceuticals, furniture and food processing. Among the agricultural products from the hinterland that are processed in East London are chicory and pineapples. The 15 000- hectare East London IDZ is already stimulating investment in the area.

East London has a good network of roads and is connected to other major centres via the N2 (Port Elizabeth and Durban) and the N6 (Bloemfontein). East London Airport hosts daily flights to all other major centres in South Africa.

As part of the Sunshine Coast, the city is well known for its outstanding beaches, which stretch for many kilometres to the west, towards Port Alfred, and to the east, where they connect to the Wild Coast region. East London is well situated as a starting point for visits to game reserves or historical tours of the Frontier Country.
www.buffalocity.co.za
www.tourismbuffalocity.co.za