Gazankulu was a bantustan

Bantustan

A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa , as part of the policy of apartheid...

 in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

, intended by the apartheid government to be a semi-independent homeland for the Tsonga (Shangaan) people

Shangaan

The Tsonga people inhabit the southern coastal plain of Mozambique, parts of Zimbabwe and Swaziland, and the Limpopo Province of South Africa...

. It was carved out of the former Transvaal Province

Transvaal Province

Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...

 and given self-rule in 1971, with its capital at Giyani

Giyani

Giyani is a town in the Limpopo province in north eastern South Africa, and former capital of the Gazankulu bantustan. Giyani is located in the heart of Limpopo Bushveld, on the northern bank of the Klein Letaba River west of Kruger National Park...

. When Apartheid was abolished in 1994, the population of Gazankulu stood at 1,5 million people. Gazankulu was re-integrated into South Africa in 1994 and now forms part of the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga respectively. Today, the population of the former Gazankulu numbers more than 2.5 million throughout South Africa.

Bushbuckridge

The town of Bushbuckridge was one of Gazankulu's most developed areas, suburban of Bushbuckridge include Acornhoek, Thulamahashe, mkhuhlu and Hazyview. Hoxane College of education is located in Hazyview. Bushbuckridge is the cultural centre of the Shangaan people, ancient cultural dances such as Muchongolo and Makhwaya are well and alive in Bushbuckridge.

Hlanganani (Elim)

The town of Elim, located 15 KM outside Louis Trichardt, is the oldest town in the former Gazankulu territory, founded by the Swiss in the 1880s as a mission station, it was one of Gazankulu's most important intellectual centres. The majority of Shangaan intellectuals were educated at Elim and Valdezia respectively. Elim was the centre of enlightenment for Shangaans in South Africa. Elim hospital owes its existence to the Swiss doctors. The original Swiss mission station was located in Valdezia, just 10 KM north east of Elim, Elim Hospital was actually the first hospital North of Pretoria, it was famous for its eye care institute and many people travelled to Elim Hospital for medical attention. Elim has more emotional connection in the Psychology of Shangaans than any other towns in the former Gazankulu territory. The first Shangaan Christians were converted here at Elim and Valdezia respectively, the first primary school, located in Valdezia was established in 1885. When the Swiss moved the Mission station from Valdezia to Elim, Lemana primary and High schools were started, in 1905. Currently the town of Elim boast a modern shopping centre and a township, known as Watervaal. The Hlanganani magistrate court is also located at Elim. Elim has played a very important role in the literacy of early Shangaan intellectuals. The first Shangaan to write a novel and publish it in 1936 was actually educated at Elim and Valdezia respectively, this is Dr DC Marivate. During the apartheid era, the white government attempted several times to remove Shangaans from Elim and Valdezia respectively but without success, thanks to the Church of Switzerland. The farm Watervaal at Elim and the farm Klipfontein in Valdezia were purchased in 1875 by two Swiss theology students, when the apartheid government tried to evict Shangaan in these settlements, the Church in Switzerland objected, even today, the Church of Switzerland hold considerable power in both Elim and Valdezia.

(Valdezia)

Valdezia is the first Shangaan settlement in South Africa, it is located 25KM east of Louis Trichardt and 10KM north east of Elim. Shangaans occupied and colonised the area in the early 1800's. The movement of Shangaans to this area was a results of wars and instability in the Gaza Kingdom in Lourenco Marques (Now Maputo) as well as the impact of the Mfecane. The Shangaan Settlement at Valdezia was not all peaceful, the Boers arrived and competition for land begin. Whites established farms next to Valdezia, the Farm Klipfontein where Valdezia currently is co-existed peacefully with a Shangaan settlement nearby.In 1875, two Swiss theology students, Ernst Creux and Henri Bertroud purchased the farm Klipfontein from Mr. Scot J. Watt in order to build a Mission station and settle Shangaans there. They name the station Valdezia, in honour of their native homeland in Switzerland, Vaud. The entire Mission Station area included Old Valdezia School, Elim Mission Church, Elim Hospital, Lemana College, Elim Mill, the dam and other historical structures.Valdezia Mission Station, its gardens and everyday functioning was cared for by Alexis Thomas, a missionary and artisan. This is the first town where the first Shangaan were converted to Christianity, also in 1875.

Giyani

This was the biggest and the most developed town in the former Gazankulu territory, it was the capital city established during the 1960s by the Apartheid government.

Letaba

The township of Nkowankowa, outside Tzaneen was one of Gazankulu's important centre, regional offices of the then Gazankulu territory were located there.

Malamulele

Malamulele was the most northern town of the former Gazankulu homeland, it is bordered in the west by the former Venda homeland.