List of leaders of the TBVC states facts for kids

A 1973 CIA map showing the Bantustans in South Africa and South West Africa (which is now Namibia).

During a time in South Africa's history called apartheid (from 1948 to 1994), the government created special areas called Bantustans. These areas were meant for different Black ethnic groups. Four of these Bantustans were declared "independent" by South Africa, meaning they were supposed to be separate countries. However, no other country in the world recognized them as truly independent. They were often seen as puppet states, meaning they were controlled by the South African government.

These four Bantustans were:

• Transkei (declared independent in 1976)
• Bophuthatswana (declared independent in 1977)
• Venda (declared independent in 1979)
• Ciskei (declared independent in 1981)

Together, their first letters form the abbreviation TBVC. After apartheid ended and South Africa held its first democratic election in April 1994, these TBVC states became part of South Africa again. This article lists the main leaders who were in charge of these four states.

Transkei: The First Independent Bantustan

Quick facts for kids Leader of Transkei
Flag of Transkei
Coat of arms of Transkei
Incumbent None
Member of	Military Council (1987–1994) (head of government)
Seat	Umtata
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	6 December 1963; 61 years ago (1963-12-06) (head of government) 26 October 1976; 48 years ago (1976-10-26) (head of state)
First holder	Kaiser Matanzima (head of government) Botha Sigcau (head of state)
Final holder	Bantu Holomisa (head of government) Tutor Ndamase (head of state)
Abolished	26 April 1994; 31 years ago (1994-04-26)

Map of Transkei (shown in red) within South Africa.

Transkei was the first of the Bantustans to be declared "independent" by South Africa, in 1976. Its capital city was Umtata (now called Mthatha).

Presidents of Transkei

The President was the head of state in Transkei.

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Time in office			Political party
			Started	Ended	Length of time
Presidents
1		Botha Sigcau (died 1978)	26 October 1976	1 December 1978 †	2 years, 36 days		TNIP
–		Zwelibanzi Maneli Mabandla (1906–?) Acting	1 December 1978	20 February 1979	81 days		TNIP
2		Kaiser Matanzima (1915–2003)	20 February 1979	20 February 1986 (retired)	7 years		TNIP
3		Tutor Ndamase (1921–1997)	20 February 1986	26 April 1994	8 years, 66 days		TNIP
							Independent

Prime Ministers of Transkei

The Prime Minister was the head of government, responsible for running the country day-to-day.

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Time in office			Political party
			Started	Ended	Length of time
Chief Minister
1		Kaiser Matanzima (1915–2003)	6 December 1963	26 October 1976	12 years, 325 days		TNIP
Prime Ministers
(1)		Kaiser Matanzima (1915–2003)	26 October 1976	20 February 1979 (became president)	2 years, 117 days		TNIP
2		George Matanzima (1918–2000)	20 February 1979	24 September 1987 (stepped down)	8 years, 216 days		TNIP
–		Dumnisani Gladstone Gwadiso (born 1952) Acting	25 September 1987	5 October 1987	10 days		TNIP
3		Stella Sigcau (1937–2006)	5 October 1987	30 December 1987 (removed from power)	86 days		TNIP
Chairman of the Military Council and of the Council of Ministers
4		Bantu Holomisa (born 1955)	30 December 1987	26 April 1994	6 years, 117 days		No political party (army officer)

Timeline of Transkei Leaders

This timeline shows when each leader was in charge of Transkei.

Bophuthatswana: The Tswana Homeland

Leader of Bophuthatswana
Flag of Bophuthatswana (1972–1994)
Coat of arms of Bophuthatswana
Incumbent None
Seat	Mmabatho (1977–1994) Mafeking (temporary, until 1977)
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	June 1968; 57 years ago (1968-06)
First holder	Lucas Mangope (Chief Executive Officer of the Tswana Territorial Authority)
Final holder	Lucas Mangope (President)
Abolished	13 March 1994; 31 years ago (1994-03-13)

Map of Bophuthatswana (shown in red) within South Africa.

Bophuthatswana was declared "independent" in 1977. Its capital was Mmabatho.

Leaders of Bophuthatswana

This section lists the main leaders of Bophuthatswana, including those who held different titles over time.

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Time in office			Political party
			Started	Ended	Length of time
1	Chief Executive Officer of the Tswana Territorial Authority
		Lucas Mangope (1923–2018)	June 1968	1 May 1971	2 years, 11 months		BNP
	Chief Executive Councillor
		Lucas Mangope (1923–2018)	1 May 1971	1 June 1972	1 year, 31 days		BNP
	Chief Minister
		Lucas Mangope (1923–2018)	1 June 1972	6 December 1977	5 years, 188 days		BNP
							BDP
	President
		Lucas Mangope (1923–2018)	6 December 1977	13 March 1994 (ran away)	16 years, 97 days		BDP
N/A		Rocky Malebane-Metsing (1949–2016)	10 February 1988		Hours		PPP
Administrators (Transitional Executive Council)
		Tjaart van der Walt (1934–2019)	13 March 1994	26 April 1994	44 days
		Job Mokgoro (born 1948)					ANC

Venda: The Vhavenda Homeland

Leader of Venda
Flag of Venda (1973–1994)
Coat of arms of the Republic of Venda
Incumbent None
Member of	Council of National Unity (1990–1994)
Seat	Thohoyandou (1979–1994) Sibasa (temporary, until 1979)
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	June 1969; 56 years ago (1969-06)
First holder	Patrick Mphephu (Chief Executive Officer of the Venda Territorial Authority)
Final holder	Tshamano Ramabulana (Head of State [Chairman of the Council of National Unity])
Abolished	26 April 1994; 31 years ago (1994-04-26)

Map of Venda (shown in red) within South Africa.

Venda was declared "independent" in 1979. Its capital was Thohoyandou.

Leaders of Venda

Here are the main leaders who governed Venda.

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Time in office			Political party
			Started	Ended	Length of time
1	Chief Executive Officer of the Venda Territorial Authority
		Patrick Mphephu (c. 1924–1988)	June 1969	1 June 1971	2 years		NPV
	Chief Executive Councillor
		Patrick Mphephu (c. 1924–1988)	1 June 1971	1 February 1973	1 year, 245 days		NPV
	Chief Minister
		Patrick Mphephu (c. 1924–1988)	1 February 1973	13 September 1979	6 years, 224 days		NPV
	Presidents
		Patrick Mphephu (c. 1924–1988)	13 September 1979	17 April 1988 †	8 years, 217 days		NPV
2		Frank Ravele (1926–1999)	17 April 1988	10 May 1988	1 year, 353 days		NPV
			10 May 1988	5 April 1990 (removed from power)
Heads of State (Chairmen of the Council of National Unity)
3		Gabriel Ramushwana (1941–2015)	5 April 1990	25 January 1994	3 years, 266 days		No political party (army officer)
4		Tshamano Ramabulana (1940–2020)	25 January 1994	26 April 1994	91 days		No political party (army officer)

Ciskei: The Xhosa Homeland

Leader of Ciskei
Flag of Ciskei
Coat of arms of Ciskei
Incumbent None
Member of	Military Committee / Council of State (1990–1994)
Seat	Bisho (1981–1994) Zwelitsha (temporary, until 1981)
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	June 1968; 57 years ago (1968-06)
First holder	Thandathu Jongilizwe Mabandla (Chief Executive Officer of the Ciskei Territorial Authority)
Final holder	Oupa Gqozo (Chairman of the Military Committee and of the Council of State)
Abolished	22 March 1994; 31 years ago (1994-03-22)

Map of Ciskei (shown in red) within South Africa.

Ciskei was the last of the TBVC states to be declared "independent" in 1981. Its capital was Bisho.

Leaders of Ciskei

This table shows the various leaders of Ciskei and their time in power.

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Time in office			Political party
			Started	Ended	Length of time
1	Chief Executive Officer of the Ciskei Territorial Authority
		Thandathu Jongilizwe Mabandla (1926–2021)	June 1968	1 June 1971	3 years		CNP
	Chief Executive Councillor
		Thandathu Jongilizwe Mabandla (1926–2021)	1 June 1971	1 August 1972	1 year, 61 days		CNP
	Chief Ministers
		Thandathu Jongilizwe Mabandla (1926–2021)	1 August 1972	21 May 1973	293 days		CNP
2		Lennox Sebe (1926–1994)	21 May 1973	June 1975	2 years, 1 month		CNIP
–		Charles Sebe (died 1991) Acting	June 1975	24 October 1975	4 months		No political party (army officer)
(2)		Lennox Sebe (1926–1994)	24 October 1975	4 December 1981	6 years, 41 days		CNIP
	President
		Lennox Sebe (1926–1994)	4 December 1981	4 March 1990 (removed from power)	8 years, 90 days		CNIP
Chairman of the Military Committee and of the Council of State
3		Oupa Gqozo (born 1952)	4 March 1990	22 March 1994 (stepped down)	4 years, 18 days		No political party (army officer)
							ADM
Administrators (Transitional Executive Council)
		Pieter van Rensburg Goosen	23 March 1994	26 April 1994	34 days
		Bongani Blessing Finca (born 1953)

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See also

• Bantu Authorities Act, 1951
• Promotion of Bantu Self-government Act, 1959
• Bantu Homelands Citizenship Act, 1970
• Bantu Homelands Constitution Act, 1971
• Foreign relations of South Africa during apartheid