Euphoric city at bursting point

PORT Elizabeth is in the midst of a huge tourism boom as a major political and three sporting events take place in and around the city this week, with projections that - as a result - close to R5m will be pumped into the local economy. "Most accommodation here is fully booked," said Tourism PE acting director, Stanford Slabbert. "We have about 5 500 beds that have been filled and are recommending that those still looking for accommodation try establishments out of the city. It is a huge economic boost for us as usually the July holidays are not busy for the accommodation sector." The Friendly City is at present hosting the ANC's national general council, the Craven Week schools rugby tournament, the Jarvis Cup inter-provincial squash event and the Ussasa (United Schools Sports Association of SA) Under-18 hockey championships. The University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) is hosting 2 000 ANC delegates and a further 900 delegates are staying in hotels around the city. UPE spokesman, Samantha Venter, said the conference was "the biggest the institution had ever hosted". (Rosemary Wilson)