East London - History
East London is situated in the Eastern Cape Province, on the south-east coast of South Africa. Originally known as Port Rex, the city abuts the Indian Ocean between the Buffalo and the Nahoon Rivers.
East London is South Africa’s 6th largest city and boasts a population in excess of 250,000, with over 700,000 in the metropolitan area. It is South Africa’s only river port.

Established by the British as a military post in 1836, East London served as a base and supply port to service the military headquarters at nearby King William’s Town, about 50 km away, during the frontier wars between the British settlers and the indigenous Xhosa inhabitants.

Fort Glamorgan, a British Fort, was built on the West Bank in 1847, and annexed to the Cape Colony that same year. This was one in a series of British forts located in the border area that became known as British Kaffraria and which included Fort Murray, Fort White, Fort Hare and Fort Beaufort.

With later development of the port came the settlement of permanent residents, including German settlers, which gave East London an economic boost and In 1873 the city was given town rights and became a municipality. Most of the settlers were bachelors and in 1857 the British Government took pity on them and a cargo of 157 Irish girls arrived "to help lift morale".

Against a typically African backdrop, the city's colonial ancestry is clearly evident in well-preserved examples of 19th-century architecture which reflect strong links with England and traces of the German lineage, which enhance the charm of the city.

In 1914. East London achieved City status; however it still manages to retain the atmosphere of a small town and laid-back charm.

The existing port, in the mouth of the Buffalo River, adjoining the Indian Ocean, has been operating since 1870. In 1876, the advent of the railway on the east bank added momentum to ongoing development of the area. The unusual double-decker bridge over the Buffalo River was completed in 1935 and to this day, is the only bridge of its type in South Africa.

In 1961, areas on either side of East London, the Ciskei to the west and Transkei to the east, were declared "Bantu homelands" by the apartheid government.

During this time, the late Donald Woods, then editor of the local newspaper, the Daily Dispatch, broke the story of the murder of Steve Biko at the hands of South African security police in Port Elizabeth, in September 1977. This was later portrayed in the Hollywood film, Cry Freedom. A prominent statue of Steve Biko now stands outside the East London City Hall.

The period of international sanctions which followed in the 1980s damaged the economy of East London's harbour: however, enormous investment in the city in recent years, by corporations such as Daimler Chrysler, has resulted in the harbour being developed to include a new car terminal, helping turn East London into the thriving city it is today.

In 2000, East London became part of the municipality of Buffalo City (which encompasses the towns of King William's Town and Bhisho) and forms the gateway to the wild coast to the north-east and the sunshine coast to the west.