Port St Johns Local Municipality

Geography, History & Economy

Port St Johns Local Municipality is part of OR Tambo District Municipality.

MDB code: EC154

Description: The Port St Johns Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated within the OR Tambo District on the coast of the Indian Ocean in the largely rural province of the Eastern Cape. It is bounded by Lusikisiki in the north, Mthatha in the south, and Libode in the west. It is the smallest of the five municipalities in the district, making up 11% of its geographical area.
It comprises coastal and inland areas that fall under the jurisdiction of the former Transkei. The seat of the municipality is in the main town of Port St Johns, which is known for its beautiful beaches and mountainous terrain, with hills, cliffs and sandy dunes.
The municipality’s beautiful scenery, its natural vegetation and the pristine beaches referred to above are the main attractions for tourism. It has land for commercial use and an environmentally-friendly residential area. There are 1 053 types of plants and 164 plant families found around Port St Johns. This unique vegetation harbours rare bird species, providing evidence of the rich biodiversity in Port St Johns.

Area: 1 291km²

Cities/Towns: Port St Johns

Main Economic Sectors: Tourism, agriculture