Ciskei

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IRiphabliki ye Ciskei Republic of Ciskei Bantustan ← 1972–1994 → Flag Coat of arms Anthem Nkosi sikelel'i Afrika Location of Ciskei within South Africa Capital Bisho Language(s) Xhosa Political structure Bantustan History  - Self-government 1 August 1972  - Re-integrated into South Africa 27 April 1994 Currency South African rand

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Ciskei (pronounced /sɪsˈkeɪ/ or /sɪsˈkaɪ/) was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. It consisted 2,970 square miles (7,700 km³), almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province and possessing a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean.

Ciskei had a succession of capitals during its existence. Originally, Zwelitsha served as the capital with the view that Alice would become the long term national capital. However, it was Bisho (now spelled Bhisho) that became the capital until Ciskei's reintegration into South Africa.

Under South Africa's policy of apartheid, land was set aside for black peoples in self-governing territories. Ciskei was designated as one of two homeland or "Bantustan" for Xhosa-speaking people. Xhosa speakers were resettled there and to Transkei, the other Xhosa homeland.

The name Ciskei means "on this side of the Kei River", and is in contrast to the neighboring Bantustan of Transkei.

History

In 1961 it became a separate administrative region and in 1972 was declared self-governing under the rule of Lennox Sebe. In 1981 it became the fourth homeland to be declared independent by the South African government and its residents lost their South African citizenship. However, there were no border controls between South Africa and Ciskei. In common with other Bantustans its independence was not recognised by the international community.

Sebe was deposed in 1990 by Brigadier Oupa Gqozo, who ruled as a dictator despite an initial promise of a swift return to civilian rule. During 1991-92, many of the legal foundations of apartheid in South Africa were removed, undermining the rationale for the homelands' continued existence. The African National Congress pressed strongly for them to be reincorporated into South Africa. This was opposed by Gqozo and the other homeland leaders.

On 7 September 1992 the Ciskei Defence Force fired into a crowd (led by Ronnie Kasrils) of ANC members demanding the removal of Gqozo. 28 people were killed and hundreds injured in the Bisho massacre outside the sports stadium in Bisho.

A rural area in Ciskei.

Gqozo refused to participate in the multiracial negotiations to agree a post-apartheid constitution for South Africa and initially threatened to boycott the first multiracial elections. This became unsustainable and in March 1994, Ciskei government workers went on strike for fear of losing their job security and pensions in the post-apartheid era. The police then mutinied, prompting Gqozo to resign on 22 March. The South African government took control of the homeland to ensure security until the elections could be held the following month.

Ciskei and all of the other homelands were reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, after the first post-apartheid elections. Along with Transkei, it became part of the new Eastern Cape Province. Its capital became the capital of the Eastern Cape Province.

See also

Historical states in present-day South Africa
before 1600 Mapungubwe (1050–1270)
1600-1700 Cape Colony (1652–1910)
1700-1800 Swellendam (1795) Graaff Reinet (1795–1796)
1800-1850 Waterboer's Land (1813–1871) Zulu Kingdom (1818–1897) Adam Kok's Land (1825–1861) Winburg (1836–1844) Potchefstroom (1837–1848) Natalia Republic (1839–1843)
1850-1875 Orange Free State (1854–1902) Republic of Utrecht (1854–1858) Lydenburg Republic (1856–1860) South African Republic (1857–1902) Griqualand East (1861–1879) Griqualand West (1870)
1875-1900 Stellaland (1882–1885) Goshen (1882–1883) Nieuw Republiek (1884–1888) Klein Vrystaat (1886–1891)
1900-present Cape Colony (1652–1910) Union of South Africa (1910–1961) Transkei (1976–1994) Bophuthatswana (1977–1994) Venda (1979–1994) Ciskei (1981–1994) Republic of South Africa (1961–present)
more

• List of heads of state of Ciskei

Books on Ciskei

• Mager, A.K. (1999) Gender and the Making of a South African Bantustan: A Social History of the Ciskei, 1945-1959, Heinemann.
• Switzer, L. (1993) Power and Resistance in an African Society: The Ciskei Xhosa and the Making of South Africa, University of Wisconsin Press.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ciskei

• Ciskei - General Information
• African Studies Quarterly
• South African history site
• WHKMLA site
• Creation of tribalism in Ciskei

Apartheid-era Bantustans in South Africa Bophuthatswana · Ciskei · Gazankulu · KaNgwane · KwaNdebele · KwaZulu · Lebowa · QwaQwa · Transkei · Venda Nominally independent Bantustans are in italics   Leaders and Administrators Nominal Independence Transkei President: Botha Sigcau 1976-1978 · Zwelibanzi Maneli Mabandla 1978-1979 · Kaiser Matanzima 1979-1986 · Tutor Nyangelizwe Vulindlela Ndamase 1986-1994 Head of Goverment: Kaiser Matanzima 1976-1979 · George Matanzima 1979-1987 · Dumnisani Gladstone Gwadiso 1987 · Stella Sigcau 1987 · Bantu Holomisa 1987-1994 Bophuthatswana President: Lucas Mangope 1977-1994 · Rocky Malebane-Metsing 10 February 1988 Administrators: Tjaart Van der Walt, Job Mokgoro March-April 1994 Ciskei Head of State: Lennox Sebe 1981-1990 (President) · Oupa Gqozo 1994 (Chairman of the Military Committee and of the Council of State) Administrators: Pieter van Rensburg Goosen, Bongani Blessing Finca March-April 1994 Venda President: Patrick Mphephu 1978-1988 · Frank N. Ravele 1988-1990 Head of State: Gabriel Ramushwana 1990-1994 · Tshamano G. Ramabulana January-April 1994 Self-Rule Gazankulu Hudson William Edison Ntsanwisi 1973-1993 · Edward Mhinga 1993 · Samuel Dickenson Nxumalo 1993-1994 KaNgwane Enos John Mabuza 1981-1991 · N.J. Badenhorst 1982 (Administrator) · Mangisi Cephas Zitha 1991-1994 KwaNdebele Simon Skosana 1981-1986 · Klaas Mtshiweni 1986 · George Majozi Mahlangu 1986-1989 · Jonas Masana Mabena 1989-1990 · James Mahlangu 1990-1994 KwaZulu Mangosuthu Buthelezi 1977-1994 Lebowa Mokgama Maurice Matlala 1972-1973 · Cedric Namedi Phatudi 1973-1987 · Z.T. Seleka 1987 · Mogoboya Nelson Ramodike 1987-1994 QwaQwa Wessel Motha 1974-1975 · Kenneth Mopeli   South-West Africa Basterland · Bushmanland · Damaraland · East Caprivi (self rule 1976) · Hereroland (self-rule 1970) Kaokoland · Kavangoland (self-rule 1973) · Namaland · Ovamboland · Tswanaland