The 2024 edition of Eastern Cape Business is the 17th edition of this successful publication that, since its launch in 2006, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Eastern Cape.
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) is supporting this issue of the journal, both in providing up-to-date information for editorial use and in sharing information about its activities. It will also distribute the journal through its regular channels.
While the Eastern Cape has deservedly earned the title of South Africa’s wind energy province, there are other developments taking place in East London, the Coega SEZ and near Humansdorp that promise to give new meaning to new energy. Vanadium batteries, green ammonia and green hydrogen are among the aspects that form part of the Special Feature on energy that appears in this journal.
The centenary of the massively important automotive industry is celebrated with reference to Ford Motor Company’s start in the “Auto City” of Port Elizabeth, as it was known, in 1924. The province’s two Special Economic Zones are attracting investors and exports are on an upward trajectory, which will be helped by upgrades of the Eastern Cape’s three ports.
Overviews are provided on the other key economic sectors of the province and the potential of the oceans economy and the prospects of oil and gas for this coastal province are examined. The major business chambers in the province have made contributions to the journal and the newest chamber, the Maritime Business Chamber, which has its headquarters a short distance up the hill from the Port of Gqeberha, makes its second appearance in the journal.
OVERVIEW Tourism The
OVERVIEW Tourism The World Bank is putting R65-million into conservation. SECTOR INSIGHT The province’s airports are to be upgraded. In November 2023, The Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) translocated its 250th rhinoceros. The BRREP has been moving rhinos to protect them for 20 years and the latest batch of 20 were taken from a reserve managed by the EasternCape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA). In six years to 2023, 40 rhinos have been moved from less safe areas into the custodianship of the ECPTA. This kind of effort has been recognised by the World Bank, which is putting R65-million from its Global Environment Facility (GEF) towards efforts in the province to protect biodiversity, in particular in the Addo Elephant National Park and the Great Fish Nature Reserve. This region is described by the World Bank as the Greater Addo to Amathole node. Several private game reserves have gone to great lengths to protect their rhino populations. Sibuya Game Reserve on the Kariega River has established the Sibuya Rhino Foundation and funds its own armed anti-poaching unit, which leases a helicopter to help with daily patrols. In March 2024 National Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga announced that Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) will go ahead with a multi-year R21.7-billion capex plan. This will include upgrades and developments at Gqeberha’s Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport and King Phalo Airport in East London. Although the Bulembu Airport in Bhisho, which is run by the EasternCape Provincial Government, has been identified as a potential hub for cargo, it was used in 2023 as a tourist point of entry when United Arab Emirates President Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan brought a number of guests to visit his private game lodge which is apparently near Makhanda. Updated figures for domestic trips into the EasternCape for 2022 showed that there were 5.8-million visits during that year, and the estimated economic impact was over R8-billion. The Provincial Premier attributed this success to the province’s SMART marketing approach. This refers to a campaign that is specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time-bound. Part of the programme has been about getting the province on to film and television screens. The film strategy is covered elsewhere in this journal but the strategy of supporting the hosting of golf tournaments was another success. In addition to hosting the South African PGA for the third time in 2023 at St Francis Links, a new, DP World Tour-sanctioned event, the SDC Championship, was added to the calendar and played on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course in 2023 and 2024. Gqeberha also hosted a new tournament, and in 2023 the metropolitan municipality put its weight behind the effort to market the city through the tournament. The Nelson Mandela Bay Championship was played for the first time in 2023, and EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2024 54 PHOTO: Sibuya Rhino Foundation
OVERVIEW again in 2024 as part of the DP World Tour at Humewood Golf Club and attracted considerable media attention. Resorts and hotels Sun International runs the Wild Coast Sun and the five-star Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World in Gqeberha, which includes conference and events facilities. Since the Wild Coast Sun became a four-star resort in 2020, there has been continuing investment in new facilities and upgrades. The interior of the EasternCape is home to several high-end private game reserves such as Shamwari, Mount Camdeboo and Kariega Game Reserve. Some luxury game lodges are located within national parks, such as the Gorah Elephant Camp, which is run by Hunter Hotels and forms part of the Addo Elephant National Park. Premier Hotels has two hotels in East London, the Mpanga Private Game Reserve and it manages the East London International Convention Centre. The Radisson Blu in Port Elizabeth offers five-star luxury overlooking Pollock Beach. Tsogo Sun has five EasternCape properties. The Courtyard Hotel, City Lodge Hotel and Road Lodge are close to one another on Port Elizabeth’s beachfront and allow the group to cater to three distinct markets with a total of 442 rooms. East London has a Road Lodge. ■ ONLINE RESOURCES Buffalo City Tourism: www.buffalocitytourism.co.za EasternCape Parks and Tourism Agency: www.visiteasterncape.co.za Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism: www.nmbt.co.za
