Patrick Mphephu

Venda king and president, leader of the Venda National Party, son of George Mbulaheni Mphephu

Patrick Mphephu

1st President of Venda
In office 13 September 1979 – 17 April 1988^[1]
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Frank Ravele^[2]
Chief Minister of Venda
In office 1 February 1973 – 13 September 1979
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Chief Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority
In office c. August 1969 – 1 February 1973
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Chief Executive Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority
In office c. 1962 – c. August 1969
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None

Personal details
Born	Patrick Ramaano Mphephu c. 1924 Dzanani, Transvaal, South Africa
Died	17 April 1988^[3] Thohoyandou, Venda
Political party	National Party of Venda^[4]

His excellency King Patrick Ramaano Mphephu (c. 1924 – 17 April 1988) was the first president of the bantustan of Venda, which was granted nominal independence from South Africa on 13 September 1979.^[5]

Mphephu was born in Dzanani settlement and after graduating from high school worked for the Johannesburg City Council. A paramount chief of the Venda people, he was appointed Chairman of the Ramabulana Regional Authority in 1959, Chief Counsellor of the Venda Legislative Assembly on 1 June 1971 and Chief Minister of the two discontiguous territories on 1 February 1973 when South Africa first implemented the black homeland policy. Mphephu was reelected in elections in August 1973 and his title changed to president upon independence. As president, he was also leader of the Venda National Party, the only recognized political party in the new state. Mphephu died in office and was replaced by his finance minister, Chief Frank Ravele.

References

^ "South African Homelands". worldstatesmen.org.
^ "The Venda National Assembly elects a new state president, Mr Frank Ravele, after the death of Chief Patrick Mphephu in April. | South African History Online". Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
^ "Patrick Mphephu, Homeland Leader, 63". The New York Times. 21 April 1988.
^ "Patrick Mphephu | president of Venda". Encyclopædia Britannica.
^ "Venda | South African History Online". sahistory.org.za.

Political offices
New title	President of Venda 1979–1988	Succeeded by Frank Ravele

Apartheid Bantustans in South Africa and South West Africa

South Africa

Nominal independence	Bophuthatswana Ciskei Transkei Venda
Self-governance	Gazankulu KaNgwane KwaNdebele KwaZulu Lebowa QwaQwa

South West Africa

Self-governance	East Caprivi Kavangoland Ovamboland
No self-governance	Bushmanland Damaraland Hereroland Kaokoland Namaland Rehoboth Tswanaland
Post-1980	Coloureds Whites

Leaders and Administrators

Bophuthatswana

Head of State:	Lucas Mangope (1968–94) Rocky Malebane-Metsing (Feb 1988)
Administrator:	Tjaart van der Walt and Job Mokgoro (Mar–Apr 1994)

Bushmanland

No central government established

Ciskei

Head of State:	Lennox Sebe (1981–90) Oupa Gqozo (1990–94)
Administrator:	Pieter van Rensburg Goosen and Bongani Blessing Finca (Mar–Apr 1994)

Damaraland

Head of State:	Justus ǁGaroëb (1980–89)

Kaokoland

No central government established

Namaland

Head of State:	Cornelius Cloete (1980–85) Daniel Luipert (1985–89)

Rehoboth

Head of State:	Johannes "Hans" Diergaardt (1979–89)

Transkei

Head of State:	Botha Sigcau (1976–78) Zwelibanzi Maneli Mabandla (1978–79) Kaiser Matanzima (1979–86) Tutor Ndamase (1986–94)
Administrator:	Bantu Holomisa (1987–94) (Head of Military Council)

Tswanaland

Head of State:	Constance Kgosiemang (1980–89)

Venda

Head of State:	Patrick Mphephu (1978–88) Frank Ravele (1988–90) Gabriel Ramushwana (1990–94) Tshamano Ramabulana (Jan–Apr 1994)

East Caprivi

Chief Minister:	Josiah Moraliswane (Mar–Sept 1976) Richard Muhinda Mamili (1976–81)
Chairman:	Josiah Moraliswane (1981–84) H.J. Becker (Jul–Aug 1984) F.P.J. Visagie (1984–86) I.J. van der Merwe (Mar–Aug 1986) A. G. Visser (1986–89)

Gazankulu

Chief Minister:	Hudson William Edison Ntsanwisi (1973–93) Edward Mhinga (Mar–Apr 1993) Samuel Dickenson Nxumalo (1993–94)

Hereroland

Chairman:	Hosea Kutako (1968–70) Clemens Kapuuo (1970–78) Kuaima Riruako (1978–80) Thimoteus Tjamuaha (1980–84) Erastus Tjejamba (1987–88) Gottlob Mbaukua (1984–89)

KaNgwane

Chief Minister:	Enos John Mabuza (1970–81, 1984–91) Mangisi Cephas Zitha (1991–94)
Administrator:	N.J. Badenhorst (June–Dec 1982) Enos John Mabuza (1982–84)

Kavangoland

Chief Minister:	Linus Shashipapo (1973–77) Alfons Shashipapo (1977–81) Sebastian Kamwanga (1981–89)

KwaNdebele

Chief Minister:	Simon Skosana (1981–86) Klaas Mtshiweni (Nov 1986) George Majozi Mahlangu (1986–89) Jonas Masana Mabena (1989–90) James Mahlangu (1990–94)