This article is about the former Bantustan in South Africa. For other uses of the term Venda see
Venda (disambiguation).
Venda was a bantustan in northern South Africa, now part of Limpopo province. It was founded as a homeland for the Venda people, speakers of the Venda language.[1] The bordering countries were Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, Colony of Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and bordered South Africa. Now part of Limpopo in South Africa.
It was declared self-governing on 1 February 1973.[2] On 13 September 1979, it was declared independent by the South African government and its residents lost their South African citizenship.[3][4] In common with other bantustans, its independence was not recognized by the international community. Being nominally independent it was possible to set up a casino which was done in the early 1980s, staffed in the main by British workers. The sovereign nation of Venda didn't practice apartheid, leading to relationships across the racial divide.
Internal borders.
Venda in red.
It was initially a series of non-contiguous territories in the Transvaal, with one main part and one main exclave. Its capital, formerly at Sibasa, was moved to Thohoyandou (which included the old Sibasa administrative district) when Venda was declared independent in 1979. Prior to independence it was expanded to form one contiguous territory, with a total land area of 6,807 km².[1] Its stated population in 1991 was 558,797 (This was not accurate),[1] with the majority of Venda peoples in Southern Africa living within its territory. The state was cut off from neighboring Zimbabwe by the Madimbo corridor, patrolled by South African troops, to the north, and from nearby Mozambique by the Kruger National Park.[1]
The first President of Venda, Patrick Mphephu, was also a chief of the Venda people. His successor, Frank Ravele, was overthrown in a military coup in 1990, after which the territory was ruled by the Council of National Unity. Venda was re-absorbed into South Africa on 27 April 1994.[2]
In 1982, the University of Venda was established as an institution for higher learning for vha-Venda people.[5]
Venda is divided into small areas, such as Mukhase, where pure water can be found running off the mountain. The area contains wild animals such as elephants, lions, and springbok.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d Lahiff, Edward, An Apartheid Oasis?: Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods in Venda. Routledge, 2000, p.55. ISBN 0714651370.
- ^ a b Worldstatesman.com has a chronology of Venda's transition to nominal independence and reintegration into South Africa.
- ^ The Birth of a New Non-State, in Time Magazine, 24 September 1979
- ^ "S. Africa Launches 'Independent Black State' of Venda," in The Washington Post, 13 September 1979.
- ^ University of Venda website, retrieved 28 June 2007.
| Apartheid-era Bantustans in South Africa |
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Leaders and Administrators |
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Nominal Independence
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Transkei  |
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Bophuthatswana  |
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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
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Venda  |
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Self-Rule
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Gazankulu  |
Hudson William Edison Ntsanwisi 1973-1993 · Edward Mhinga 1993 · Samuel Dickenson Nxumalo 1993-1994
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KaNgwane  |
Enos John Mabuza 1981-1991 · N.J. Badenhorst 1982 (Administrator) · Mangisi Cephas Zitha 1991-1994
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KwaNdebele  |
Simon Skosana 1981-1986 · Klaas Mtshiweni 1986 · George Majozi Mahlangu 1986-1989 · Jonas Masana Mabena 1989-1990 · James Mahlangu 1990-1994
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KwaZulu  |
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Lebowa  |
Mokgama Maurice Matlala 1972-1973 · Cedric Namedi Phatudi 1973-1987 · Z.T. Seleka 1987 · Mogoboya Nelson Ramodike 1987-1994 |
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QwaQwa  |
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