About Cacadu Infrastructure
|
Brief overview
The Cacadu District forms part of the Eastern Cape and surrounds the coastal area of Nelson Mandela Bay. The Eastern Cape has an estimated population of 7,140,000 and covers an area of 169,580 square kilometers (14% of total South African area). Major cities include East London and Port Elizabeth, with the capital being Bhisho. The Eastern Cape contributes 8.1% to South Africa’s GDP and has a growth rate of 0.2% (3rd Quarter 2008). The principle languages are isiXhosa (83.4%), Afrikaans (9.3%) and English (3.6%).
Roads
National and provincial roads link the District to neighbouring airports, harbours, Industrial Development Zones and other major centres in South Africa. 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.
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. The quality of piped water in all parts of South Africa is among the best in the world.
Sea
Two active harbours (in Port Elizabeth and East London), and another newly constructed deep-water port at the Coega Industrial Development Zones, are located just outside of the Cacadu District and provide opportunities for export-based manufacturing. 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.
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.
Air
The District is located in close proximity to two regional airports in East London and Port Elizabeth, the latter connecting to international airports. There are also a number of small airstrips in the area. Air transport is of great importance in the Eastern Cape with its diversity and distance between modern urban centres and rural areas. 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.
Information and Communication Technology
South Africa ranks 23rd in telecommunications development in the world and has approximately 4, 92 million installed telephones and 4,3 million installed exchange lines. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Eastern Cape offers significant development possibilities and telecommunications access and computer literacy are increasing rapidly. The telecommunication industry provides cutting-edge world-class telecommunication technology throughout the District. The government’s countrywide Accelerated Growth and Shared Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA) together with the Coega and East London IDZ will help meet the demand for social infrastructure services such as electricity and water, provide efficient and competitive logistical infrastructure and facilitate the expansion of modern telecommunications. |