Infrastructure

While the cities and sophisticated industrial areas of the Eastern Cape are well served by infrastructure, its rural areas still battle with huge backlogs left by apartheid. Recognising that good roads, railways, ports and other infrastructure is a foundation for growth, the province has made addressing backlogs in provision of schools, clinics, roads, water and sanitation a priority. Public spending on infrastructure in the former ‘homeland’ areas is rising dramatically. For instance, R6.5-billion was allocated to infrastructure investment in the Eastern Cape in 2004/5, from R3.9-billion in 2002/3.

Through the PGDP, the government’s Economic Growth and Infrastructure Cabinet and Cluster committees, and investments by state utility agencies such as Eskom, Telkom and Transnet, significant resources are going to the province’s two Industrial Development Zones (IDZs), to road and rail construction and refurbishment, and to developing the Ngqura Port at the Coega IDZ. All of this provides a sound basis for new private sector investment.

Import and export growth and potential has been boosted by public investment in the Port Elizabeth and East London ports. At Port Elizabeth, the port has expanded its car washing facilities, increased the capacity of its car terminal, and has seen its break-bulk terminal, which handles cargo such as wheat, project equipment, steel rails, coils, general cargo and cement, become the most profitable in the country. At East London, the port’s container stacking area has been allocated R20-million for an upgrade, and the R1.6-million resurfacing of the S&T berths is underway.

Other important projects include: the Kei Rail Corridor Project, between East London and Mthatha, which opens a vital transport link for new investors to the East London IDZ; and the planned N2 toll road from Durban to East London, which will open easier trade links out of and into the province.

Air

Air transport is of great importance in the Eastern Cape with its diversity and distance between modern urban centres and rural areas. Air infrastructure includes two national airports at Port Elizabeth and East London, an airport at Mthatha and 16 air strips in small towns and rural areas owned by municipalities or the private sector. Although the Bulembu airport near Bhisho, the capital, has no scheduled flights, it is used by organisations such as emergency medical services or private operators and is large enough to accommodate international flights.

USEFUL CONTACTS:

• Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) – East London
— Tel: 043-706-0304
• Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) – head office
— Tel: 011-453-9116 | E-mail: InfoHO@metrorail | Website: www.airports.co.za
• Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) – Port Elizabeth
— Tel: 041-507-7348

Sea

With its 800km coastline, the Eastern Cape has always been a seafaring area. The ports of Port Elizabeth and East London are growing rapidly in line with South Africa’s strong performance as one of the fastest-growing exporters in the world. The Eastern Cape now has a third port, the new deep-water port of Ngqura, linked to the Coega IDZ.

USEFUL CONTACTS:

• National Ports Authority (NPA) – head office
— Tel: 011-242-4024 | E-mail: webmaster@npa.co.za | Website: www.npa.co.za
• Provincial Department of Safety, Liaison and Transport
— Tel: 040-636-4117
• The port of East London
— Tel: 043-700-1200
• The ports of Port Elizabeth and Ngqura
— Tel: 041-507-1885

Power

Grid electricity provides 98% of South Africa’s commercial power requirements, with the same being true of the Eastern Cape. Eskom, the national generation and supply company, sells electricity to residential, industrial and commercial consumers. Many rural consumers are still without electricity, although this is changing through Eskom’s rural electrification programme.

USEFUL CONTACTS:

• Eskom Southern Region (Eastern Cape)
— Tel: 043-703-2929 | E-mail: Southern@eskom.co.za | Website: www.eskom.co.za

Rail

The Eastern Cape has an extensive rail network of 3,360km and 450 stations, which is used for commuters, mainline passengers and freight. There are two main lines from Port Elizabeth and East London to Gauteng and a series of branch lines. The two main lines are the only electrified lines in the province, although the East London line is not yet fully electrified all the way to Gauteng.

USEFUL CONTACTS:

• Spoornet
— Tel: 011-773-4418 | Website: www.spoornet.co.za
• Metrorail
— Tel: 011-773-7091/2 | E-mail: InfoHO@metrorail.co.za | Website: www.metrorail.co.za

Roads

The Eastern Cape has an extensive network of 55,088km of roads servicing the large rural province, of which only 5,746km are paved. Some 80% of the networks are district, minor and access roads intended to service rural areas.

USEFUL CONTACTS:

• Provincial Department of Roads and Public Works
— Tel: 040-639-2382 | Website: www.drpw.gov.za
• South African National Roads Authority (Sanra) Southern Region (Eastern Cape)
— Tel: 041-398-3203 | Website: www.nra.co.za

Telecommunications

Telecommunications has developed immensely in the Eastern Cape over the past 10 years with the introduction and rapid popularity of mobile telephones, which have greatly increased telephone access in rural areas.

USEFUL CONTACTS:

• Cell C
— Website: www.cellc.net
• MTN
— Website: www.mtn.co.za
• Telkom
— Website: www.telkom.co.za
• Vodacom
— Website: www.vodacom.co.za

Water and Sanitation

The Eastern Cape is rich in water resources, with many rivers running from the escarpment to the Indian Ocean. The drier, western half of the province has lower rainfall and fewer rivers. The eastern half of the province has higher rainfall and more rivers, especially in the former Transkei, where water resources are underused. Many households in the former homeland areas, however, continue to have inadequate water and sanitation services. The quality of piped water in all parts of South Africa is among the best in the world.

USEFUL CONTACTS:

• Department of Water Affairs and Forestry - southern region
— Tel: 043-604-5401 | Website: www.dwaf.gov.za
• Provincial Department of Housing and Local Government
— Tel: 040-609-3701 | Website: www.dhlgweb.ecape.gov.za
• Provincial Department of Roads and Public Works
— Tel: 040-639-2382 | Website: www.drpw.gov.za