The impact of political transformation on employment in the Transkei bureaucracy and civil service in Umtata, South Africa since 1994

Abstract

The demise of South

Using Municipal Tourism Assets for Leveraging Local Economic Development in South Africa

“…The municipality has a total population estimated (2016) as 490 000 (99.1 percent Black African). The two largest settlements are Mqanduli and Mthatha (150 000 people); the latter formerly as Umtata was the 'capital city' of the so-termed 'independent' Transkei until its reintegration into South Africa following democratic transition and with negative ramifications for the local economy as its governmental role was diminished (Siyongwana, 2005(Siyongwana, , 2009. Of interest is that Mthatha is one of South Africa's 'urban' places where the major part of its population lives in rural settings (de Witt and Ndzamela, 2018).…”

Peripheral Tourism Trajectories: Evidence From the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, South Africa

“…Umtata lost its status as a preferred 'growth point' for decentralization of manufacturing in terms of changes in location incentives enacted in 1991. By 1994 it had lost also its former capital city function and later suffered further misfortune in the decision to locate the function of provincial capital of Eastern Cape at Bisho (Siyongwana, 2009). A rebound in the local economy began from 2000 when Mthatha secured its role as administrative centre for the O.R.…”

“…Notwithstanding its limited attractions for the leisure traveler new possibilities emerged with independence for Umtata to expand its economy of business tourism. With accession to 'independence' Umtata acquired the status as well as some of the associated trappings of a 'national' capital city (Siyongwana, 2009). Opportunities opened up here for the further flow of business tourists including of 'international business tourists' through the steady flow of diplomats and government offici als from Pretoria.…”

“…Opportunities opened up here for the further flow of business tourists including of 'international business tourists' through the steady flow of diplomats and government offici als from Pretoria. Arguably, following independence, business tourism must have expanded in significance associated with the growth of government administrative functions (Siyongwana, 2009) and thus a boost overall to Umtata's tourism local economy. Umtata was the road and air transportation focus for Transkei as well as the hub of Transkei Airways which operated 20 flights a week between Johannesburg and Umtata.…”