Chris Hani District
CHRIS HANI DISTRICT
Local municipalities are: Lukanji (Queenstown, Whittlesea); Sakhisizwe (Cala, Elliot); Ngcobo (Ngcobo); Emalahleni (Dordrecht, Indwe, Lady Frere); Intsika Yethu (Cofimvaba, Tsomo); Inkwanca, (Sterkstroom, Molteno); Tsolwana (Hofmeyer, Tarkastad); Inxuba Yethemba (Cradock, Middelburg).
The Chris Hani District ranges across the centre of the province, covering a range of terrain from semi-arid Karoo in the west to the hills of the Transkei in the east. It is the second largest of the six districts with an area of 37,111 square kilometres. The district encompasses both large commercial livestock farms and ex-Ciskei and Transkei areas. Queenstown lies at the centre of the district and is the main town.
The population is estimated at 810,300, with a population density of about 22 people per square kilometre. The majority of the population (93%) lives in the former Transkei and Ciskei areas. Coloureds make up 4% and the proportion of whites is 2%. Xhosa is the majority language.
Chris Hani provides only 7% of provincial value added, but this hides significant non-monetary subsistence value in the former homelands. Agriculture is the largest private sector activity in Chris Hani, providing 13% of value added and 21% of employment. Livestock farming is the predominant activity. The Karoo farms around Cradock and Middelburg focus on small stock, producing wool, mohair and mutton. Queenstown is a centre for the cattle trade, drawing from surrounding areas and the Transkei. Commercial black cattle farmers are present around Cofimvaba and Ngcobo, where private ownership of farms is possible. Some forestry is also present in the areas around Cofimvaba. Irrigation takes place on the upper reaches of the Fish River around Cradock, utilising water from the Orange River through the Fish River transfer scheme.
Manufacturing is the next most important private sector, providing 8% of value added and 5% of employment. Agro-processing industries predominate with furniture the most important, followed by food processing and wood products. Queenstown is the main manufacturing centre, with a small furniture industry and with dairy processing and wood products also present. Food processing is present in Cradock and Middelburg. Tourism is limited in Chris Hani but there is some development in farm tourism and through game farms. The long distance N6 and N10 national routes pass through the province and there is potential for 'stop-over' tourism in farms and guest houses. There is beautiful scenery in the Karoo and in the Elliot/Ngcobo area. The Mountain Zebra National Park near Cradock is an attraction. Government services play a significant role in the economy, providing 44% of value and 41% of formal employment.
OPPORTUNITIES
Local municipalities are: Lukanji (Queenstown, Whittlesea); Sakhisizwe (Cala, Elliot); Ngcobo (Ngcobo); Emalahleni (Dordrecht, Indwe, Lady Frere); Intsika Yethu (Cofimvaba, Tsomo); Inkwanca, (Sterkstroom, Molteno); Tsolwana (Hofmeyer, Tarkastad); Inxuba Yethemba (Cradock, Middelburg).
The Chris Hani District ranges across the centre of the province, covering a range of terrain from semi-arid Karoo in the west to the hills of the Transkei in the east. It is the second largest of the six districts with an area of 37,111 square kilometres. The district encompasses both large commercial livestock farms and ex-Ciskei and Transkei areas. Queenstown lies at the centre of the district and is the main town.
The population is estimated at 810,300, with a population density of about 22 people per square kilometre. The majority of the population (93%) lives in the former Transkei and Ciskei areas. Coloureds make up 4% and the proportion of whites is 2%. Xhosa is the majority language.
Chris Hani provides only 7% of provincial value added, but this hides significant non-monetary subsistence value in the former homelands. Agriculture is the largest private sector activity in Chris Hani, providing 13% of value added and 21% of employment. Livestock farming is the predominant activity. The Karoo farms around Cradock and Middelburg focus on small stock, producing wool, mohair and mutton. Queenstown is a centre for the cattle trade, drawing from surrounding areas and the Transkei. Commercial black cattle farmers are present around Cofimvaba and Ngcobo, where private ownership of farms is possible. Some forestry is also present in the areas around Cofimvaba. Irrigation takes place on the upper reaches of the Fish River around Cradock, utilising water from the Orange River through the Fish River transfer scheme.
Manufacturing is the next most important private sector, providing 8% of value added and 5% of employment. Agro-processing industries predominate with furniture the most important, followed by food processing and wood products. Queenstown is the main manufacturing centre, with a small furniture industry and with dairy processing and wood products also present. Food processing is present in Cradock and Middelburg. Tourism is limited in Chris Hani but there is some development in farm tourism and through game farms. The long distance N6 and N10 national routes pass through the province and there is potential for 'stop-over' tourism in farms and guest houses. There is beautiful scenery in the Karoo and in the Elliot/Ngcobo area. The Mountain Zebra National Park near Cradock is an attraction. Government services play a significant role in the economy, providing 44% of value and 41% of formal employment.
OPPORTUNITIES
- Livestock: Small-stock farming (sheep and goats) in the Karoo can be expanded through farm worker enterprises and can provide the wool, mohair and meat for small processing industries. Cattle farming has a base in the district and the black commercial farmers of the Transkei can provide a route for expansion.
- Crops: Irrigation can be expanded in the Fish River around Cradock by increasing the water transferred from the Orange River, giving opportunities for high value horticultural production. Sugar beet will also develop in the Fish River Valley around Cradock. Small-scale irrigation can be developed in the Transkei.
- Forestry can expand in the ex-Transkei areas, with potential for a small wood products industry.
- Minerals may have potential for development through the large Molteno/Indwe coalfield, which is being investigated by ECDC and Mintek.
- Food processing offers potential in meat and dairy processing, vegetable canning and in branding of food products from the Transkei.
- Food processing offers potential in meat and dairy processing, vegetable canning and in branding of food products from the Transkei.
- Wool and Mohair in the Karoo and Wool in the Transkei can be processed by small-scale craft industries into garments, providing a source of rural employment
- Furniture has a base in Queenstown and can expand further, drawing wood from the Amatola and Transkei forests.
- Tourism is limited now, but can grow based on 'stop-overs', investment in the tourism reserves and community tourism in the former Transkei.
