QwaQwa

QwaQwa
1974–1994
Flag of QwaQwa
Flag
Coat of arms of QwaQwa
Coat of arms
Location of QwaQwa (red) within South Africa (yellow).
Location of QwaQwa (red) within South Africa (yellow).
StatusBantustan
CapitalWitsieshoek
Common languagesSesotho
English
Afrikaans
Chief Minister 
History 
• Self-government
1 November 1974
• Re-integrated into South Africa
27 April 1994
Area
1980[1]620 km2 (240 sq mi)
Population
• 1980[1]
157,620
• 1991[2]
542,886
CurrencySouth African rand
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Republic of South Africa
Republic of South Africa
Today part ofSouth Africa

QwaQwa was a bantustan ("homeland") in the central eastern part of South Africa. It encompassed a very small region of 655 square kilometres (253 sq mi) in the east of the former South African province of Orange Free State, bordering Lesotho.[1] Its capital was Witsieshoek. It was the designated homeland of more than 180,000 Sesotho-speaking Basotho people.

The frequent snow on the Drakensberg mountain peaks led the San to call the region "QwaQwa" (whiter than white).[2] In Afrikaans it was known as "Witsieshoek", after Oetse (also Witsie and Wetsi), a Makholokoe chief who lived there from 1839 to 1856.[3]

Three tribes lived in the region, the Makholokoe, Bakoena and the Batlokoa. In 1969[4][better source needed] they were united and the area was named "KwaKwa". In the same year, the name was changed to "QwaQwa" to avoid an ethnic identification.[clarification needed]

  1. ^ Sally Frankental; Owen Sichone (2005-01-01). South Africa's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook. ABC-CLIO. p. 187. ISBN 978-1-57607-674-3. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference RSAdist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Raper, PE. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names". Human Science Research Council. p. 478. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  4. ^ Flags of the world Discussion of name and history. Retrieved 10 April 2006.