Port Elizabeth, often shortened to "PE", and nicknamed "The Friendly City" or "The Windy City", was founded in 1820 by Sir Rufane Donkin, the Acting Governor of the Cape Colony, and populated with 4,000 British settlers arriving by sea. The new seaport town was named after Donkin's late wife, Elizabeth. The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women and children. Port Elizabeth is just south of the expanding Addo Elephant National Park, and boasts the highly successful University of Port Elizabeth which has merged with PE Technicon and Vista University in 2005 to form the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Since 1998, Port Elizabeth has been in a friendship partnership with the Swedish City of Gothenburg. A partnership fostering development of common fields of interest such as solid waste management, public libraries, sport and tourism.
Home of South Africa's motor industry, Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage host General Motors, Volkswagen, Ford, Continental Tires and many more. Most other industries in the NMMM are geared towards the motor industry, providing parts such as wiring harnesses, catalytic converters and tires to the vehicle manufacturers.
Picture Source: Panoramio
Portelizabeth.com / Port Elizabeth visitors guide/ City Information
