Bantu Holomisa

Bantu Holomisa
Holomisa delivering a speech in Khutsong, Gauteng in 2019
Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Assumed office
30 June 2024
Serving with Richard Mkhungo
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
MinisterAngie Motshekga
Preceded byThabang Makwetla
President of the United Democratic Movement
Assumed office
27 September 1997
Deputy
Preceded byPosition established
Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of South Africa
In office
1994–1996
PresidentNelson Mandela
MinisterDawie de Villiers
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Assumed office
since 1994
4th Head of Government of Transkei
Chairman of the Military Council and of the Council of Ministers
In office
30 December 1987 – 26 April 1994
PresidentTutor Ndamase
Preceded byStella Sigcau (as prime minister)
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born
Bantubonke Harrington Holomisa

(1955-07-25) 25 July 1955 (age 69)
Mqanduli, South Africa
Political partyUnited Democratic Movement (1997–present)
Other political
affiliations
African National Congress (1994–1996)
Military service
AllegianceRepublic of Transkei
Branch/serviceTranskei Defence Force
Years of service1976–1994
RankMajor General
Brigadier (1985)
Unit141 Battalion
CommandsSouth African Defence Force

Bantubonke Harrington Holomisa[1] (born 25 July 1955)[1][2] is a South African politician. He is a member of parliament for and president of the United Democratic Movement.[1][2] and the current Deputy Minister of Defence.

Holomisa was born in Mqanduli, Cape Province.[1] He joined the Transkei Defence Force in 1976[1] and had become a brigadier by 1985.[1][3]

Holomisa forced the resignation and exile of Prime Minister of Transkei George Matanzima in October 1987[4][5] and overthrew Matanzima's successor, Prime Minister Stella Sigcau in a bloodless coup d'état[6] in December 1987. Holomisa then became the head of government of Transkei from 1987 to 1994, upon which Transkei was reintegrated into the "new" South Africa and Holomisa joined the African National Congress (ANC).[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "General Bantubonke Harrington "Bantu" Holomisa (profile)". Who's who of Southern Africa. 24.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Holomisa, H. Bantubonke (Bantu) – co-founder and president of United Democratic Movement". Contemporary African Database. The Africa Centre. Archived from the original on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  3. ^ Pissarra, Mario (1 November 2001). "Holomisa, H. Bantubonke (Bantu)". Contemporary African Database. The Africa Centre. Archived from the original on 14 February 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  4. ^ Mgaqelwa, Abongile (8 August 2013). "Matanzima dies after hijack". Daily Dispatch. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Chief George Mzimvubu Mathanzima, former Prime Minister of Transkei, dies". South Africa History Online. 10 November 2000. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Stella Sigcau dead at 69". Mail&Guardian. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2007.