Lebowa

Lebowa
1972–1994
Flag of Lebowa
Flag
Coat of arms of Lebowa
Coat of arms
Location of Lebowa (red) within South Africa (yellow).
Location of Lebowa (red) within South Africa (yellow).
StatusBantustan
CapitalLebowakgomo
Common languagesPedi
English
Afrikaans
Chief Minister 
History 
• Self-government
2 October 1972
• Re-integrated into South Africa
27 April 1994
Area
1980[1]24,540 km2 (9,470 sq mi)
Population
• 1980[1]
1,700,000
• 1991[2]
2,740,587
CurrencySouth African rand
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Republic of South Africa
Republic of South Africa

Lebowa was a bantustan ("homeland") located in the Transvaal in northeastern South Africa.[3] Seshego initially acted as Lebowa's capital while the purpose-built Lebowakgomo was being constructed. Granted internal self-government on 2 October 1972 and ruled for much of its existence by Cedric Phatudi, Lebowa was reincorporated into South Africa in 1994. It became part of the Limpopo province. The territory was not contiguous, being divided into two major and several minor portions.[3]

Even though Lebowa included large swathes of Sekukuniland[4] and was seen as a home for the Northern Sotho speaking ethnic groups such as the Pedi people, it was also home to various non-Northern Sotho speaking tribes, including the Northern Ndebele, Batswana and VaTsonga.

  1. ^ Sally Frankental; Owen Sichone (1 January 2005). South Africa's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook. ABC-CLIO. p. 187. ISBN 978-1-57607-674-3. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference RSAdist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "Lebowa | historical region, South Africa | Britannica". www.britannica.com.
  4. ^ "Sekhukhuneland - Images | Greg Marinovich Photography". gregmarinovich.photoshelter.com.