Venda
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- For the eCommerce company see Venda Inc.
Venda was a bantustan in northern South Africa, now part of Limpopo province. It was founded as a homeland for the Venda or vha-Venda ethnic group, speakers of the Venda language.[1]
It was declared self-governing on February 1, 1973.[2] On September 13, 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.
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.[5] Its population in 1991 was 558,797 (This was not accurate),[6] 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.[7]
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 April 27, 1994.[8]
In 1982, the University of Venda was established as an institution for higher learning for vha-Venda people.[9]
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, springbok etc.
[edit] Famous Venda people
- Rudzani Ramudzuli
- Phillip Ndou
- Professor Tshilidzi Marwala
- Joel Netshitenzhe
- Cyril Ramaphosa
- Kennedy Tshivhase
- Mukoni Ratshitanga
- Maduvha
- Mbulaheni Charles Mphephu
[edit] See also
- Heads of State of Venda
- South African Translators' Association
- Vhavenda, the ethnic group who live in Limpopo state in South Africa.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Lahiff, Edward, An Apartheid Oasis?: Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods in Venda. Routledge, 2000, p.55. ISBN 0714651370.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Op cit., Lahif.
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ Op cit. Worldstatesman.com
- ^ University of Venda website, retrieved 28 June 2007.
| Historical nation-states of present-day South Africa (including Boer republics and TBVC states) |
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Mapungubwe (1050-1270) |
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