Mmabatho
Encyclopedia
Mmabatho is the former capital of the North-West Province of South Africa
. In the apartheid era, it was the capital of the former "Bantustan
" of Bophuthatswana
. Following the end of apartheid in 1994, Bophuthatswana was integrated into the newly established North-West Province and Mmabatho was proclaimed the provincial capital. However, Mmabatho status as the provincial capital was short-lived. Later in 1994, the North West provincial legislature voted to rename the capital to Mafikeng
, reducing Mmabatho to a suburb of Mafikeng.
Mmabatho was the scene of a major uprising against the Homeland government of Lucas Mangope
in March 1994 which resulted in a chaotic intervention by right-wing Afrikaner
nationalists, wide-scale looting and the deployment of South Africa troops.
Mmabatho contains many provincial government buildings, a shopping complex called Mega City, and a Sports Stadium formerly called the Independence Stadium. The University of North-West, formerly the University of Bophuthatswana, is located in Mmabatho.
Situated just south of the Botswana border, the town is connected by main roads to South Africa's national capital of Pretoria
in the east and to Gaborone
, the capital of Botswana
, in the north. A railway runs north and south from the neighboring town of Mafikeng. The city is served by Mmabatho International Airport
, handling flights to and from Johannesburg
.
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...
. In the apartheid era, it was the capital of the former "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...
" of Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana , officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana was a Bantustan – an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity – and nominal parliamentary democracy in the northwestern region of South Africa...
. Following the end of apartheid in 1994, Bophuthatswana was integrated into the newly established North-West Province and Mmabatho was proclaimed the provincial capital. However, Mmabatho status as the provincial capital was short-lived. Later in 1994, the North West provincial legislature voted to rename the capital to Mafikeng
Mafikeng
Mahikeng – formerly legally, but still commonly known as Mafikeng – is the capital city of the North-West Province of South Africa. It is best known internationally for the Siege of Mafeking, the most famous engagement of the Second Boer War.Located on South Africa's border with Botswana, it is ...
, reducing Mmabatho to a suburb of Mafikeng.
Mmabatho was the scene of a major uprising against the Homeland government of Lucas Mangope
Lucas Mangope
Kgosi Lucas Manyane Mangope is the former leader of the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana and current leader of the United Christian Democratic Party, a minor political party based in the North West province of South Africa....
in March 1994 which resulted in a chaotic intervention by right-wing Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
nationalists, wide-scale looting and the deployment of South Africa troops.
Mmabatho contains many provincial government buildings, a shopping complex called Mega City, and a Sports Stadium formerly called the Independence Stadium. The University of North-West, formerly the University of Bophuthatswana, is located in Mmabatho.
Situated just south of the Botswana border, the town is connected by main roads to South Africa's national capital of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
in the east and to Gaborone
Gaborone
' is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 191,776 based on a 2006 survey, about 10% of the total population of Botswana....
, the capital of Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, in the north. A railway runs north and south from the neighboring town of Mafikeng. The city is served by Mmabatho International Airport
Mmabatho International Airport
Mafikeng Airport or Mmabatho Airport is an airport serving Mafikeng and Mmabatho, the current and former capital cities of the North West province in South Africa.- Facilities :...
, handling flights to and from Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
.