A R142-million construction project to improve the coastal route between East London and Port Elizabeth, announced recently by Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport MEC Thobile Mhlahlo, has been welcomed by local real estate players.

Intended to stimulate development in the Eastern Cape, the road upgrade has as a key focal point the R72 route according to Mhlahlo, who called it "a vital arterial to the area" during his hand-over of the construction site to the contractors.

The venture was critical, he added, both in terms of providing access to the Eastern Cape during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and stimulating tourism between the two cities and Coega.

For Taki Kondylis, CEO of Seeff East London, the venture is long over-due. "East London has notoriously been forgotten, left behind the rest of the country with regard to its development." He says this "isolation" has affected all sectors, including real estate, which now however stands poised to receive a new lease on life.

East London's flight links are currently poorly serviced and very expensive, its rail links are also below standard and its road network, both to the south and to the north, are in disrepair and a major danger, he adds. "It is about time that this type of major development and investment takes place in the province, not only for the 2010 event but for the betterment and upliftment of all its people long afterwards."

His excitement about a "new, modern and easily accessed" link is therefore tangible, the more so since he expects it to stimulate investment and tourism in previously undiscovered areas in addition to adding momentum to its property market.

Warwick Heny, owner of RE/MAX Kowie which sits in the centre of the R72 route, believes that the small villages along the route, as well as popular destinations such as Port Alfred, Kenton on Sea, Alexandria and Kleinemonde, will benefit greatly from the venture.

Good press over the last few years has ensured that Port Alfred is now firmly on the map, he continues, and tourism is growing at steady pace. Improving its major access routes will open the region up further and make it more popular among the growing number of people seeking alternative business opportunities and lifestyles.

His views are shared by Arthur Lees-Rolfe, who owns Remax Bay Commercial in Port Elizabeth.

"There are few areas that can offer both a booming economy and reasonably priced accommodation on the beach or with great ocean views," he says. "The new Embizweni residential development at Blue Water Bay is one example of excellent value, with prices starting at R1,7 million. Another is that apartments with 180 degree sea views can still be purchased R3,5 million, which is unheard of in other areas."

Lees-Rolfe adds: "The Eastern Cape boasts many nature-orientated destinations. The improvement of the road system will make it easier for people to get to these destinations, thus improving the economy."

He also predicts that the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM) as a whole will continue expanding strongly for the next 15 years. This will be on the back of ongoing developments in the Coega area and resultant growth of "downstream" activities from major, related plants.

Further, with its wide range of signature events such as the Hobie Week, the Ironman and the Ocean Racing Series, he sees "The Bay" attracting a growing number of serious water sportspeople and holiday makers.

"This focus on lifestyle, along with a stunning coastline, easy access to game farms and an impressive selection of renowned schools, gives Port Elizabeth a wonderful advantage over many other places," he says. "Incoming industries will help drive economic activity, which along with the advantages of the city and its surrounds, will heighten its appeal as a place where people want to live and work."

Reporting great interest in its commercial and industrial arenas, Lees-Rolfe says newcomers to the NMMM area are also stimulating economic activity by opening up new businesses of all types. - By Ingrid Olivier

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    This is good news for the Eastern Cape. However, once again, all the development is going to the "old" Eastern Cape i.e. excluding the Transkei region. The Transkei region has been neglected by the democratic government since 1994. Except for the national road (N2) through the Transkei, which has been quite nicely revamped and improved in some parts, and a fair effort at maintenance in others, the roads in the towns and residential areas have been completely neglected.

    In some towns like Butterworth, there are potholes that have been growing with the years, and are now a permanent feature of the roads. There are feeble attempts to "repair" them: how can tenders be awarded to "maintain" previously tarmac roads by filling them with ordinary soil? Of course, when the rain comes, which inevitably will, the soil is washed out and the pothole gapes again and continues to grow deeper and wider. The same people go back and fill them will soil, and the cycle continues indefinitely. In my mind this is either gross stupidity or downright corruption!

    In fact, if one goes to the Msobomvu, Mchubakazi, Cuba and Ibika townships of Butterworth, there are entire sections that are completely inaccessible even by the best 4X4 you can imagine. This is a fact! Since there has never been an imbizo in Butterworth, nor a presidential visit, just a succession of provincial officials supposedly running the town that has remained council-less for long periods of time due to in-party squabbles – this fact has remained on the margins of all speeches by influential leaders at all influential forums.

    The fact that both national presidents who have served the country thus far come from the Transkei has not affected the development of this region positively at all - and yet presumably they are aware of the dire state of things overt there. All the major factories closed down and moved elsewhere in the 1990's, sending unemployment (and all it's attendant social ills) skyrocketing overnight. And yet, the Transkei region always returns the same party to power with overwhelming numbers. Is this the Zimbabwe syndrome – the more people suffer the more they vote for the same party? The fact that other political parties have not used this blatant and gross neglect of an entire region to their advantage is also mind-boggling. Bantu Holomisa is the only one that has spoken about this at some length, but he also seems to get shy and the words die off towards the end of his sentences, and then he proceeds to occupy his cushy seat in parliament.

    Is there someone out there with some charisma - there are four million votes up for grabs in this area. – Anonymous

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