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Our High-tech Hospital - top of the Hip Parade!

Port Alfred has a thriving, bustling hospital. This facility includes theatres, a maternity ward, labour and paediatric wards, casualty centre and out-patients' facilities. There is also a private hospital wing that provides a range of escellent services to private patients.

The R600 million project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between Nalithemba Hospitals (part of the NETCARE Group), a group of Black Businessmen and the Provincial Health Department. Equipment in the new hospital is all top of the range and offers Ndlambe patients the very best diagnostic and medical care.

Decor and layout is the same in both public and private wings. The hospital boasts its own water purification system and all water used throught the hospital emanates from huge rainwater storage tanks.

Since opening there's been a stream of patients checking in for knee and hip replacements. Two of the country's most esteemed orthopaedic surgeons are making regular trips to Port Alfred to carry out these procedures. The hospital has also attracted a full-time, experienced gynaecologist,  general surgeon and senior plastic surgeon who regularly performs skin cancer surgery as well as cosmetic procedure.  Minor procedures such as Botox and fillers and "anything that needs to be lifted" are also on his lists.

 

  

   One of the Paediatric Wards                A Maternity Ward Bed             A three-bed Ward

 

The new Private Hospital is good news for retirees who plan to relocate to Port Alfred. There used to  be a steady stream of older residents relocating to the major centres to have easy access to medical treatment. And the big negative as far as business was concerned is that it was people of means who left. Now things have turned around and Port Alfred is a Top Destination for those wanting to enjoy early or partial retirement. With modern technology it's become so easy to enjoy the coastal lifestylw while still keeping a finger on the pulse of thriving businesses all over the country - and indeed the world.  

And it's so satisfying to take a call and tell your friends, "I'm off to play golf," or "Sorry, going fishing!".

 

  

      Well-equipped neo-natal Unit  Consulting Rooms in Casualty       One of the beds in the Delivery Room

 

 

East Cape Development Corporation

welcomes your new business proposals

Believe it or not there are funds to be had to assist with the start-up costs of a new business in this area although they do come with some strings attached. According to Ken Bern of the ECDC who gave a most illuminating presentation to members of Port Alfred Business Forum.

Number one is that the business person wanting funds must be 100% committed to their idea financially and who are passionate about making their idea a viable business.

The applicant must demonstrate a fair level of expertise in the proposed business area. However, ECDC's enterprise development service will help get you to up to

speed if you feel you are lacking somewhat in this regard.

An active involvement in your initiative is essential and full-time participation in the venture must be evident by one or all of the applicants at any given time during the course of the contract. In line with the National Credit Act ECDC can only consider applicants  with a clean credit record.

There are specific Target Sectors that will be looked on favourably. These priority sectors include:

Agriculture, Agro-processing, Tourism, Property Development, Renewable Energy within the context of rural development and Small Town Regeneration.

There is also a fairly strict Assessment Criteria that includes: The Viability and Sustainability of a project, Management Skills of the entrepreneur, BEE Involvement, Impact on the Environment and Availability of a Market and Support of the Project by the relevant municipality.

You will be required to provide a business plan or at least a concept document to the unit in order for their team to make a proper assessment of the project. Should the project manager require business skills development, the unit will refer you to ECDC's Enterprise Development Services unit. Should you also require assistance with accessing markets, the unit will then refer you to ECDC's Trade Promotion Unit.  For further information on all aspects of ECDE please feel free to e-mail Ken Bern  

 

Rosehill Mall where shopping's a pleasure

ROSEHILL MALL - on the Port Elizabeth side of town - is wooing shoppers from near and far!

12 000sqm of floor space is already completed and when phase 2 is completed, letting space will more than double to 25 000sqm. What a win for Port Alfred. Anchor store is a Super SPAR and other national stores such as Woolworths - with those wonderful foods we can't seem to live without - Truworths, Ackermans, Markhams, Foschini, Milady's, Edgars Red Square, Clicks, Miladys, Crazy Store, Quick Silver, Tekkie Town, Roxy and American Swiss Jewellers make this an exciting new asset for the whole region.  The two coffee shops LetterCups and Big Apple are always bursting at the seams as eager shoppers stop for a breather. And the movie house shows two new films each week. There's also a lovely Home Industry offering loads of home-baked savoury and sweet treats.

Many local businesses are also doing well at Rosehill including a top-service hairdressing salon ICON, Equilibrium Beauty Salon, interior decorator SOLEIL EN MER, FURNMARK. a Pam Golding estate agency, Sure Travel and a lovely art galley that does roaring trade each time holidaymakers hit town. All major banks are operating ATMs within the mall and Port Alfred Post Office has a branch there.  OXYGEN - a state-of-the-art gym - is the newest attraction.

BENEFITS GALORE FOR THE WHOLE OF NDLAMBE!

The new shopping mall is an exciting addition to the town's appeal  - to people seeking a new lifestyle as well as to holidaymakers. Hundreds of jobs have been created which is great news for many families in the area. And with national stores such as Ackermans, Woolworths and Super Spar locals are tending to stay put and shop in Port Alfred instead of pottering off to Port Elizabeth and East London and spending there. Many more thousands of rands are going into Port Alfred tills each month.

 

 

THE APPEAL OF PORT ALFRED  

There is a buzz about Port Alfred that is spreading far and wide. Every week brings e-mails from all over the country asking for more information about the lifestyle we enjoy here and about business opportunities. Of course, there are lots of enquiries from Gauteng from people anxious to escape the stressful mode of life most folks are subjected to up there. People with young families are asking about schooling, homes for sale, businesses for sale and for ideas of what skills are needed here.

It's easy to understand the appeal Port Alfred boasts - safe beaches, countryside to explore, the chance to go fishing, canoeing, surfing, even old-fashioned shopping experiences. Children can wander safely and freely in our shopping malls and they can also enjoy simple childish pleasures such as riding their bikes, exploring the countryside and just playing together in the open air.