Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the country's south-eastern coast. Its capital is Bhisho, though the province's largest cities are Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and East London. The Eastern Cape is the second-largest province by area and has a population of approximately seven-million people. The province's economy is anchored by manufacturing, particularly automotive production in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro, agriculture, forestry and tourism. It is home to significant citrus and livestock farming, as well as extensive forestry plantations. The Eastern Cape also holds substantial renewable-energy potential, with wind and solar projects increasingly contributing to the energy mix. Infrastructure development, including water projects such as the Mzimvubu Water Project, is central to addressing service-delivery challenges and unlocking economic growth. The province faces persistent socioeconomic challenges, including high unemployment and poverty rates, alongside infrastructure backlogs in rural areas. Governance is vested in a provincial legislature and executive council. The Eastern Cape is culturally significant as the birthplace of many anti-apartheid leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, and remains a key region in South Africa's political and economic landscape.
Eastern Cape Updates
Whose vision of development counts? South Africa’s Amadiba communities made maps of what matters
26th October 2026 South Africa’s Mpondoland, on the east coast, is known for its red sand dunes and coastal forests. Here, the Amadiba people have lived sustainably... →
SA: Blade Nzimande: Address by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, during a visit to the East London Industrial Development Zone and Science and Technology Park (16/10/2026)
16th October 2026 All these visits are connected and form part of our Ministry’s programme to strengthen the Department’s relationships with Special Economic Zones... →
ANC calls for mobilisation, unity following landmark ConCourt ruling in IEC candidate nominations case 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 16th October 2026 The ANC has launched a powerful call to action, urging all party structures, leagues, and alliance partners to close ranks for a “decisive victory”... →
How to make land reform partnerships work
By: Econ3x3 13th October 2026 Land restitution is far more complex than simply resettling dispossessed communities on restored land. If beneficiaries are to prosper and sustain... →
Minister David Maynier declares new national park in Eastern Cape
9th October 2026 The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, has declared 18 properties in the Eastern Cape, covering a total of 10... →
1985: The Langa Massacre and the ending of white rule in South Africa
8th October 2026 On 21 March 1985, police opened fire on a funeral procession in Langa township outside Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, killing peaceful protesters... →
DA adds Mayoral Candidates in Eastern Cape Municipalities where the ANC submitted no lists
1st October 2026 The Democratic Alliance is proud to announce that we will be fielding four additional mayoral candidates in the Eastern Cape. The addition of these... →
DA rejects parole system’s endless red tape delays, calls for reform now
1st October 2026 The DA is deeply concerned that South Africa’s parole system reform is caught in a cycle of endless delays and red-tape, and reform is not... →
SA/US Quo Vadis II
30th September 2026 The recently announced US visa arrangements, followed by the US ambassador’s belligerent remarks, have put SA/US relations back in the spotlight... →
The quiet erosion: What has happened to subsistence farming in South Africa?
28th September 2026 There is a gradual decline in households engaged in subsistence agriculture. What does this mean for food security and for households’ wellbeing?... →
