Venda
Encyclopedia
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
. It bordered modern Zimbabwe
and South Africa
, and is now part of Limpopo in South Africa
.
It was declared self-governing on 1 February 1973. On 13 September 1979, it was declared independent by the South African government and its residents lost their South African citizenship. 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.
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. Its stated population in 1991 was 558,797 (this was not accurate), 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
.
The first President of Venda, Patrick Mphephu
, was also a chief of the Venda people; he was born and lived in Dzanani. 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.
In 1982, the University of Venda
was established as an institution for higher learning for vha-Venda people.
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 northern 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...
, now part of Limpopo province. It was founded as a homeland
Homeland
A homeland is the concept of the place to which an ethnic group holds a long history and a deep cultural association with —the country in which a particular national identity began. As a common noun, it simply connotes the country of one's origin...
for the Venda people
Venda people
The Venda are a Southern African people living mostly near the South African-Zimbabwean border.- History :The Venda were originally from either the Congo or the Great Rift Valley, migrating across the Limpopo river during the Bantu expansion.The Venda of today are descendants of many heterogeneous...
, speakers of the Venda language
Venda language
Venda, also known as or , is a Bantu language and an official language of South Africa. The majority of Venda speakers live in the northern part of South Africa's Limpopo Province, but about 10% of speakers live in Zimbabwe. The Venda language is related to Kalanga which is spoken in Botswana...
. It bordered modern Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and 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...
, and is now part of Limpopo 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...
.
History
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.
It was initially a series of non-contiguous territories in the Transvaal
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:...
, with one main part and one main exclave. Its capital, formerly at Sibasa
Sibasa
Tshivhase is a town in Limpopo Province, South Africa and the former capital city of the Venda bantustan. When Venda was declared independent in 1979, the capital was moved to Thohoyandou. The corrupted name Sibasa appears a lot in South African media.In fact, the correct Venda word is Tshivhase...
, was moved to Thohoyandou
Thohoyandou
Thohoyandou is a town in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. It is the administrative centre of Vhembe District Municipality and Thulamela Local Municipality. It is also known for being the former capital of the bantustan of Venda....
(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. Its stated population in 1991 was 558,797 (this was not accurate), with the majority of Venda peoples in Southern Africa living within its territory. The state was cut off from neighboring Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
by the Madimbo corridor, patrolled by South African troops, to the north, and from nearby Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
by the Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers and extends from north to south and from east to west.To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is...
.
The first President of Venda, Patrick Mphephu
Patrick Mphephu
Chief Patrick Ramaano Mphephu was the first president of the bantustan of Venda, which was granted nominal independence from South Africa on 13 September 1979....
, was also a chief of the Venda people; he was born and lived in Dzanani. 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.
In 1982, the University of Venda
University of Venda
The University of Venda is a South African university, located in Thohoyandou in Limpopo province.-History:It was established in 1982 to serve the inhabitants of the Venda bantustan, However, the student body at Univen never consisted of Venda students only, student from all over the Northern...
was established as an institution for higher learning for vha-Venda people.
See also
- Heads of State of VendaHeads of state of Venda-List of the Heads of State of Venda:-See also:*Bantustan*President of South Africa*List of State Presidents of South Africa*List of Prime Ministers of South Africa...
- Venda peopleVenda peopleThe Venda are a Southern African people living mostly near the South African-Zimbabwean border.- History :The Venda were originally from either the Congo or the Great Rift Valley, migrating across the Limpopo river during the Bantu expansion.The Venda of today are descendants of many heterogeneous...
(Vhavenda), the ethnic group who live mostly in the LimpopoLimpopoLimpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
province in South AfricaSouth AfricaThe 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...
.