Area: 15 535 square kilometres

Population: 1.5 million

Covering the majority of the former Transkei area, the rural O.R. Tambo District is 15 535 square kilometres with Africans making up 99% of the 1.5 million inhabitants. It is situated on the scenic Wild Coast region of South Africa, which offers many under-exploited tourism opportunities.

The district is named after founding member of the ANC Youth League (ANC YL), Oliver Reginald Tambo who fought for equal rights for all during the apartheid era. After spending three decades in exile, Tambo returned to South Africa in 1991 and was elected National Chairperson of the ANC. He was also chairperson of the ANC's Emancipation Commission.

Mthatha is the main centre of the District with some of the other major towns in the district including Mqanduli, Port St. Johns, Qumbu, Lusikisiki and Bizana. The Nelson Mandela Museum, in Mthatha and Qunu, houses the history of the struggle against apartheid and the life of Nelson Mandela – the favourite son of the area. The government is the chief employer in the economy and they employ thousands of people in the formal and informal sectors.

The District has a relatively small formal economy compared to the other districts in the province and relies heavily on a subsistence and informal economy. Agriculture is the major private sector activity contributing towards 8% of formal employment. Forestry is the chief enterprise.

The District’s largest manufacturing sectors include food processing, furniture and wood products - all based in Mthatha.