50 51 Reasons to be proud of Port Elizabeth.
Civic pride and love of Port Elizabeth drove us at MyPE to compile this (not exhaustive) list. Please add your thoughts below:
- PE is named for love after Sir Rufane Donkin lost his wife, Elizabeth.
- PE is home to the world’s only monument to Prester John.
- PE is South Africa’s second largest city – with regards to its area of around 250 square kilometres.
- PE is the fifth largest city by population.
- PE is the least windy coastal city in the whole of South Africa.
- PE is home to more indigenous plant species than the entire British Isles.
- PE is known as the ‘Windy City’.
- PE is known as the ‘Friendly City’.
- PE is known as the ’10 Minute Town’.
- PE is known as the ‘Watersport Capital’.
- PE is on 40 kilometres of seafront.
- PE is home to South Africa’s oldest bowling green.
- PE is the second most historically rich city in South Africa.
- PE is home to the only memorial dedicated to horses used in wartime.
- PE is home to the largest carillon of bells in the country in the Campanile.
- PE is home to No 7 Castle Hill, one of the oldest surviving settler cottages in the city.
- PE is malaria free.
- PE is completely ringed by Conservation Areas and Game Farms.
- PE is the only city in South Africa with TWO harbours.
- PE is home to the largest South African flag (and pole) in South Africa.
- PE forms part of the only metropolitan area in the world named after Nelson Mandela.
- PE is home to the Big Seven.
- PE is the Automotive Assembly Hub of South Africa.
- PE has sunshine on 300 out of 365 days.
- PE is home to two Blue Flag Beaches.
- PE has arguably the longest green lung bisecting any city in South Africa – the Baakens Valley.
- PE is home to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
- PE is home to the Red Location Museum.
- PE is home to the South End Museum.
- PE is home to the Bayworld Museum.
- PE is the birthplace of Athol Fugard.
- PE is the birthplace of Schalk Burger.
- PE is the birthplace of Bertie Reed.
- PE is the birthplace of Winston Ntshona.
- PE is the birthplace of Danny Williams.
- PE is the birthplace of Zim Ngqawana.
- PE is the birthplace of Cecil Afrika.
- PE is the birthplace of Elviro Petersen.
- PE is the birthplace of Danny Jordaan.
- PE is the birthplace of Roelf Meyer.
- PE is the birthplace of Nikki Williams.
- PE is the birthplace of Graeme, Peter and Shaun Pollock.
- PE is the birthplace of John Kani.
- PE is the birthplace of Zolani Mahola.
- PE is the birthplace of Jeremy Maggs.
- PE is the birthplace of Patrick Soon-Shiong.
- PE is the birthplace of Ashwell Prince (Thanks Gerard Roman!)
- PE is not pretentious.
- PE has the most progressive renewable energy policy in South Africa.
- PE is a great place to leave but an ever better place to come back to.
- PE is the triathlon capital of South Africa (Thanks Barbara Foot!).
Help us out here and add any Notable Port Elizabeth persons here.
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In Flemming Square behind the Port Elizabeth City Hall in Govan Mbeki Avenue stands a monument dedicated to the mythical king-priest, Prester John, and the Portuguese explorers who discovered South Africa.
The Prestor John Memorial was unveiled in 1986 by the then Portuguese Ambassador to South Africa.
The memorial consists of a large Coptic cross and, in the central circle, are the figures of Prester John and a Portuguese navigator.
It was the quest for Prester John as a Christian ally that led to expeditions to reach him by sailing around Africa.
The monument is believed to be the only monument in the world depicting Prester John.
Along with looking for a route to the East, the Portuguese were also looking for the kingdom of this legendary monarch who was supposed to rule over a land with many riches and wild animals and said to be as wise as King Solomon.
It took the Portuguese 500 years to map the way to the east via the Cape, and their 500 year search for Prester John’s kingdom was to no avail.
AND, if you have ventured this far down the article you may as well scroll down a tad more and leave a comment!
Alan Straton
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You really made me smile with this one! I can’t wait to buy my flat on Summerstrand.