Venda

Former Bantustan in South Africa (1979–94)

This article is about the former territory in South Africa. For other uses, see Venda (disambiguation).

Republic of Venda

Riphabuliki ya Venḓa (Venda)
Republiek van Venda (Afrikaans)

1979–1994

Flag

Coat of arms

Motto: "Shumela Venda"  (Venda)
"Always Aspire for Venda"
Anthem: Pfano na vhuthihi  (Venda)a
Peace and Togetherness

Location of Venda (red) within South Africa (yellow).

Status| Bantustan
(de facto; independence not internationally recognised)
Capital| Thohoyandou
22°57′S 30°29′E﻿ / ﻿22.95°S 30.48°E﻿ / -22.95; 30.48
Official languages| Venda[1]
English[1]
Afrikaans[1]
President|

• 1979–1988

| Patrick Mphephu

• 1988–1990

| Frank Ravele
Head of State|

• 1990–1994

| Gabriel Ramushwana

• Jan–Apr 1994

| Tshamano Ramabulana
Legislature| Legislative Assembly
History|

• Self-government

| 1 February 1973

• Nominal independence

| 13 September 1979

• Coup d'etat

| 5 April 1990

• Dissolution

| 27 April 1994
Area
1980[2]| 7,410 km2 (2,860 sq mi)
Population

• 1980[2]

| 315,545

• 1991[3]

| 558,797
Currency| South African rand

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | South Africa

|

| South Africa |

|

1. Anthem of Venda at nationalanthems.info.

Venda (/ˈvɛndə/ VEN-də), officially the Republic of Venda (Venda: Riphabuliki ya Venḓa; Afrikaans: Republiek van Venda), was a Bantustan in northern South Africa. It was fairly close to the South African border with Zimbabwe to the north, while, to the south and east, it shared a long border with another black homeland, Gazankulu. It is now part of the Limpopo province. Venda was founded by the South African government as a homeland for the Venda people, speakers of the Venda language.[4] The United Nations and international community refused to recognise Venda (or any other Bantustan) as an independent state.

## History

[edit]

Historical states
in present-day
South Africa

before 1600

* Kingdom of Mapungubwe (1050–1270)
* Kingdom of Mutapa (1430–1760)

1600–1700

* Dutch Cape Colony (1652–1795)

1700–1800

* Mthethwa Paramountcy (c.1780–1817)
* Ndwandwe (c.1780–1817)
* Republic of Swellendam (1795)
* Republic of Graaff-Reinet (1795–1796)
* Cape Colony (1795–1802)

1800–1850

* Dutch Cape Colony (1802–1806)
* Cape Colony (1806–1910)
* 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

* South African Republic (1852–1902)
* Orange Free State (1854–1902)
* Republic of Utrecht (1854–1858)
* Lydenburg Republic (1856–1860)
* Griqualand East (1861–1879)
* Griqualand West (1870–1880)
* Diggers' Republic (1870–1871)

1875–1900

* Stellaland (1882–1885)
* Goshen (1882–1883)
* Nieuw Republiek (1884–1888)
* Klein Vrystaat (1886–1891)

1900–present

* Cape Colony (1806–1910)
* Union of South Africa (1910–1961)
* Transkei (1976–1994)
* Bophuthatswana (1977–1994)
* Venda (1979–1994)
* Ciskei (1981–1994)
* Republic of South Africa (1961–present)

South Africa portal

* v
* t
* e

Venda was declared self-governing on 1 February 1973,[5] with elections held later in the year.[6] Further elections were held in July 1978.[6] The territory was declared independent by the South African government on 13 September 1979, and its residents lost their South African citizenship.[7][8] In common with the other Bantustans, its independence was not recognised by the international community.

Venda 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 (2628 sq. mi.).[4] In the 1984 elections, the ruling Venda National Party retained its position as ruling party, beating the perpetual opposition Venda Independent People's Party (VIPP).[6]

At independence in 1979, the population of Venda stood at about 200,000 people. The state was cut off from neighbouring Zimbabwe by the Madimbo corridor, patrolled by South African troops, to the north, and from nearby Mozambique by the Kruger National Park.[4]

The first President of Venda, Patrick Mphephu, was also a Paramount Chief of the Vhavenda people; he was born and lived in Dzanani in Limpopo. His successor, Frank Ravele, was overthrown in a military coup by the Venda Defence Force in 1990. Afterwards, the territory was ruled by the Council of National Unity, a military junta chaired by General Gabriel Ramushwana. Venda was re-incorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994.[5]

## Institutions of education

[edit]

In 1982, the University of Venda, known as Univen, was established as an institution of higher learning for the Vhavenda people.[9]

## Districts in 1991

[edit]

Map of Venda showing districts and border changes

Districts of the province and population at the 1991 census.[3]

* Dzanani: 123,035
* Mutale: 244,532
* Thohoyandou: 136,089
* Vuwani: 55,141

## Security forces

[edit]

Main article: Venda Defence Force

Flag of the Venda Defence Force

The Venda National Force was established with Venda's independence in 1979 and included defence and other services such as police and prisons. Strangely enough, traffic policing was part of this national force, but, by 1981, it was transferred to the Department of Justice. The Fire Brigade was, however, still part of the Venda National Force, although there were plans to transfer this to the civilian government.

## See also

[edit]

* Heads of State of Venda
* Venda people (Vhavenda), the ethnic group who live mostly in the Limpopo province in South Africa.
* Venda Defence Force

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Chapter 2, Section 6, Republic of Venda Constitution Act 1979 "Luvenda, English and Afrikaans shall be the official languages of the Republic of Venda"
2. ^ Sally Frankental; Owen Sichone (1 January 2005). South Africa's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook. ABC-CLIO. p. 187\. ISBN 978-1-57607-674-3. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
3. ^ a b "Census > 1991 > Venda > Variable Description > ... > District code". Statistics South Africa – Nesstar WebView. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
4. ^ a b c Lahiff, p. 55.
5. ^ a b Worldstatesman.com has a chronology of Venda's transition to nominal independence and reintegration into South Africa.
6. ^ a b c Elections in South Africa's Apartheid-Era Homelands "Bantustans" African Elections Database
7. ^ The Birth of a New Non-State (subscription required), in Time Magazine, 24 September 1979
8. ^ "S. Africa Launches 'Independent Black State' of Venda," in The Washington Post, 13 September 1979.
9. ^ University of Venda website Archived 4 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 June 2007.

## Sources

[edit]

* Lahiff, E. (2000) An Apartheid Oasis?: Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods in Venda, Routledge. ISBN 0-7146-5137-0.

* v
* t
* e

Bantustans in South Africa and South West Africa

| South Africa|

| Nominal independence|

* Bophuthatswana
* Ciskei
* Transkei
* Venda

|

Self-governance|

* Gazankulu
* KaNgwane
* KwaNdebele
* KwaZulu
* Lebowa
* QwaQwa

South West Africa|

| Self-governance|

* East Caprivi
* Kavangoland
* Ovamboland

|

No self-governance|

* Bushmanland
* Damaraland
* Hereroland
* Kaokoland
* Namaland
* Rehoboth
* Tswanaland

Post-1980|

* Coloureds
* Whites

Leaders and Administrators

Bophuthatswana |

| Head of State:|

* Lucas Mangope (1968–94)
* Rocky Malebane-Metsing (Feb 1988)

|

Administrator:|

* Tjaart van der Walt and Job Mokgoro (Mar–Apr 1994)

Bushmanland|

No central government established

Ciskei |

| Head of State:|

* Lennox Sebe (1981–90)
* Oupa Gqozo (1990–94)

|

Administrator:|

* Pieter van Rensburg Goosen and Bongani Blessing Finca (Mar–Apr 1994)

Damaraland |

| Head of State:|

* Justus ǁGaroëb (1980–89)

|

Kaokoland |

No central government established

Namaland|

| Head of State:|

* Cornelius Cloete (1980–85)
* Daniel Luipert (1985–89)

|

Rehoboth |

| Head of State:|

* Johannes "Hans" Diergaardt (1979–89)

|

Transkei |

| Head of State:|

* Botha Sigcau (1976–78)
* Zwelibanzi Maneli Mabandla (1978–79)
* Kaiser Matanzima (1979–86)
* Tutor Ndamase (1986–94)

|

Administrator:|

* Bantu Holomisa (1987–94) (Head of Military Council)

Tswanaland |

| Head of State:|

* Constance Kgosiemang (1980–89)

|

Venda |

| Head of State:|

* Patrick Mphephu (1978–88)
* Frank Ravele (1988–90)
* Gabriel Ramushwana (1990–94)
* Tshamano Ramabulana (Jan–Apr 1994)

|

East Caprivi |

| Chief Minister:|

* Josiah Moraliswane (Mar–Sept 1976)
* Richard Muhinda Mamili (1976–81)

|

Chairman:|

* Josiah Moraliswane (1981–84)
* H.J. Becker (Jul–Aug 1984)
* F.P.J. Visagie (1984–86)
* I.J. van der Merwe (Mar–Aug 1986)
* A. G. Visser (1986–89)

Gazankulu |

| Chief Minister:|

* Hudson William Edison Ntsanwisi (1973–93)
* Edward Mhinga (Mar–Apr 1993)
* Samuel Dickenson Nxumalo (1993–94)

|

Hereroland|

| Chairman:|

* Hosea Kutako (1968–70)
* Clemens Kapuuo (1970–78)
* Kuaima Riruako (1978–80)
* Thimoteus Tjamuaha (1980–84)
* Erastus Tjejamba (1987–88)
* Gottlob Mbaukua (1984–89)

|

KaNgwane |

| Chief Minister:|

* Enos John Mabuza (1970–81, 1984–91)
* Mangisi Cephas Zitha (1991–94)

|

Administrator:|

* N.J. Badenhorst (June–Dec 1982)
* Enos John Mabuza (1982–84)

Kavangoland |

| Chief Minister:|

* Linus Shashipapo (1973–77)
* Alfons Shashipapo (1977–81)
* Sebastian Kamwanga (1981–89)

|

KwaNdebele |

| Chief Minister:|

* Simon Skosana (1981–86)
* Klaas Mtshiweni (Nov 1986)
* George Majozi Mahlangu (1986–89)
* Jonas Masana Mabena (1989–90)
* James Mahlangu (1990–94)

|

KwaZulu |

| Chief Minister:|

* Mangosuthu Buthelezi (1977–94)

|

Lebowa |

| Chief Minister:|

* Mokgama Maurice Matlala (1972–73)
* Cedric Namedi Phatudi (1973–87)
* Z.T. Seleka (Oct 1987)
* Mogoboya Nelson Ramodike (1987–94)

|

Ovamboland |

| Chief Minister:|

* Fillemon Elifas Shuumbwa (1973–75)
* Cornelius Tuhafeni Ndjoba (1975–81)
* Peter Kalangula (1981–89)

|

QwaQwa |

| Chief Minister:|

* Wessel Motha (1974–75)
* Tsiame Kenneth Mopeli (1975–94)

|

* v
* t
* e

Other South African governments

| Kingdoms| Colonies| Boer Republics| Bantustans| National

|
|
|
|

* Kingdom of Mapungubwe (c. 1075–c. 1220)
* Mthethwa Paramountcy (c. 1780–1817)
* Ndwandwe Kingdom (c. 1780–1819)
* Zulu Kingdom (1816–97)

* Dutch Cape Colony (1652–1806)
* Cape Colony (1795–1910)
* Natal Colony (1843–1910)
* Orange River Colony (1902–10)
* Transvaal Colony (1902–10)

* Natalia Republic (1839–43)
* Orange Free State (1854–1902)
* Griqualand East (1861–79)
* Griqualand West (1870–73)
* Goshen (1882–83)
* Stellaland (1882–85)
* Nieuwe Republiek (1884–88)
* Upingtonia (1885–87)
* Klein Vrystaat (1886–91)

* Gazankulu (1971–94)
* Lebowa (1972–94)
* QwaQwa (1974–94)
* Transkei (1976–94)
* Bophuthatswana (1977–94)
* Venda (1979–94)
* Ciskei (1981–94)
* KaNgwane (1981–94)
* KwaNdebele (1981–94)
* KwaZulu (1981–94)

* Cape Qualified Franchise (1853–1910)
* South African Republic (1856–1902)
* Union of South Africa (1910–61)
* Republic of South Africa (1961–present)

Current government

* v
* t
* e

Political history of South Africa

Defunct polities|

* Kingdom of Mapungubwe (c. 1075–c. 1220)
* Dutch Cape Colony (1652–1806)
* Mthethwa Paramountcy (c. 1780–1817)
* Ndwandwe Kingdom (c. 1780–1819)
* Cape Colony (1795–1910)
* Zulu Kingdom (1816–1897)
* Natalia Republic (1839–1843)
* Natal Colony (1843–1910)
* Orange Free State (1854–1902)
* South African Republic (1856–1902)
* Griqualand East (1861–1879)
* Griqualand West (1870–1873)
* Goshen (1882–1883)
* Stellaland (1882–1885)
* Nieuwe Republiek (1884–1888)
* Upingtonia (1885–1887)
* Klein Vrystaat (1886–1891)
* Orange River Colony (1902–1910)
* Transvaal Colony (1902–1910)
* Union of South Africa (1910–1961)
* Transkei (1976–1994)
* Bophuthatswana (1977–1994)
* Venda (1979–1994)
* Ciskei (1981–1994)

Events|

| Pre-colonial|

* Bantu migrations
* Battle of Salt River

|

1652–1815|

* Dutch settlement
* French Huguenot settlement
* Khoikhoi–Dutch Wars
* Xhosa Wars
* Battle of Muizenberg
* Battle of Blaauwberg
* Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814

1815–1910|

* Mfecane
* 1820 Settlers
* Great Trek
* Boer Republics
* Transvaal Civil War
* Mineral Revolution
* Witwatersrand Gold Rush
* South African Wars
* South Africa Act 1909 (National Convention)

1910–1948|

* South West Africa campaign
* Maritz rebellion
* Rand Rebellion
* Great Depression
* 1946 African Mine Workers' Union strike
* Bantustans

Apartheid|

* 1948 general election
* Apartheid legislation
* Pass laws
* Internal resistance
* Coloured-vote constitutional crisis
* Defiance Campaign
* Congress of the People
* Freedom Charter
* Women's March 1956
* 1957 Alexandra bus boycott
* Sharpeville massacre
* 1960 republic referendum
* International isolation
* UN Resolution 1761
* UNSC Resolution 591
* Academic boycott
* Disinvestment
* Constructive engagement
* Tar Baby Option
* Sporting boycott
* Olympics
* Rugby union
* Rivonia Trial
* Durban Moment
* Border War
* Israeli alliance
* Israel–South Africa Agreement
* Mafeje affair
* Soweto Uprising
* Weapons of mass destruction
* Project Coast
* Church Street bombing
* 1983 constitutional referendum
* Vaal uprising
* Langa massacre
* Rubicon speech
* Operation Vula
* Dakar Conference
* Transkei coup d'état
* Ciskei coup d'état
* Venda coup d'état
* Third Force
* CODESA
* Storming of the Kempton Park World Trade Centre
* Bisho massacre
* 1992 apartheid referendum
* Saint James Church massacre
* Bophuthatswana crisis
* Shell House massacre
* Sauer Commission

Post-
apartheid|

* 1994 general election
* Government of National Unity
* Reconstruction and Development Programme
* Truth and Reconciliation Commission
* Arms Deal
* Floor crossing
* Soweto bombings
* African Renaissance
* Travelgate
* Xenophobia
* Attack on Kennedy Road
* Blikkiesdorp
* Marikana massacre
* 2012 Western Cape farm workers' strike
* Nkandlagate
* Racism
* 2014 platinum strike
* #RhodesMustFall protests
* #FeesMustFall student protests
* Tshwane riots
* 2019 service delivery protests
* 2019 Johannesburg riots
* COVID-19 pandemic
* 2020 Phala Phala Robbery
* 2021 unrest
* Lady R incident

Political culture|

* African nationalism
* Afrikaner Calvinism
* Afrikaner nationalism
* Anarchism
* Azania
* Baasskap
* Boerehaat
* Black Consciousness Movement
* Cape Independence
* Day of the Vow
* Greater South Africa
* Honorary whites
* Rooi gevaar
* Slavery
* Swart gevaar
* Uitlander
* Volkstaat

Defunct
organisations|

| Civic and political
organisations|

* Afrikaner Bond
* Afrikaner Broederbond
* Afrikaner Party
* AITUP
* APO
* AVF
* BPC
* Black Sash
* Boerestaat Party
* CDA
* CNIP
* CTEG
* COD
* Congress Alliance
* COSG
* CP
* DLF
* Dominion Party
* DP (1973–1977)
* DP (1989–2000)
* DPP
* DSM
* ECC
* FA
* FD
* Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners
* GNP
* Het Volk
* HNP (Herenigde)
* HNP (Herstigte)
* IDASA
* ID
* IP
* ISL
* Jeugkrag
* Johannesburg Reform Committee
* Labour Party (1910–1958)
* Labour Party (1969–1994)
* Liberal Party (1953–1968)
* NA
* NCP
* Natal Indian Congress
* NLP
* NNP
* NP
* NPP
* NRP
* NUSAS
* Occupy
* Orangia Unie
* Oranjewerkers
* Orde Boerevolk
* PAVN
* PFP
* Progressive Party (Cape Colony)
* Progressive Party
* PRP
* Radio Freedom
* Reform Party
* SABP
* SADECO
* SAIC
* SASO
* SAYCO
* SAYRCO
* South African Party (Cape Colony)
* South African Party (1911–1934)
* South African Party (1977–1980)
* TNIP
* Torch Commando
* UFP
* United Party
* Unionist Party
* National Party of Venda
* Volksparty
* Workers Party
* WOSA

|

Trade unions and
social movements|

* APF
* BCM
* BLATU
* CNETU
* CTSWU
* FCWU
* FNETU
* FOSATU
* ICU
* IWW
* MUSA
* NEUM
* NURHS
* PAWE
* SAAPAWU
* SACTU
* SAIF
* SARHU
* SATUC
* Die Spoorbund
* UDF
* Umkosi Wezintaba

Paramilitary and
terrorist organisations|

* APLA
* ARM
* AWB
* BBB
* Boeremag
* Greyshirts
* MK
* Ossewabrandwag
* Orde van die Dood
* PAGAD
* SANF

Histories of
political parties|

* African National Congress
* Democratic Alliance
* Pan Africanist Congress of Azania

Category
*[c.]: circa
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template