The
Eastern Cape is a
province of South Africa. Its capital is
Bhisho, but its two largest cities are
Port Elizabeth and
East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the Xhosa
homelands of
Transkei and
Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the
Cape Province. Landing place and home of the 1820 settlers, the central and eastern part of the province is the traditional home of the
Xhosa people. This region is the birthplace of many prominent South African politicians, such as
Nelson Mandela,
Oliver Tambo,
Walter Sisulu,
Govan Mbeki,
Raymond Mhlaba,
Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe,
Chris Hani,
Thabo Mbeki,
Steve Biko,
Bantu Holomisa and
Charles Coghlan.