Periodically debated introducing strict limit in African province (7,4)

'african province' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'periodically debated introducing strict limit' is the wordplay.
'periodically' means one should take alternating letters (letters must be selected 'every so often').
'introducing' is an insertion indicator (some letters introduced or inserted into others).
'strict' becomes 'stern' (synonyms).
'limit' becomes 'cap' (capping is a kind of limiting).
The alternate letters of 'debated' are 'eae'.
'stern'+'cap'='sterncap'
'eae' going around 'sterncap' is 'EASTERN CAPE'.

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?