It includes the towns of East London, Bhisho and Qonce, as well as the large townships of Mdantsane and Zwelitsha.

The area has a well-developed manufacturing base, with the auto industry playing a major role.

Daimler AG through its wholly owned subsidiary Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has a large assembly plant located next to the port of East London, which produces a variety of vehicles for export.

Ntombentle Peter was voted in as Executive Mayor at the inaugural meeting of the new council following the municipal elections.

In the election of 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of seats on the council.