Bophuthatswana and Its Impact on the North West Province, 1974-1998

BOPHUTHATSWANA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE, 1974-1998 MOLOKOE B.K.M. BOPHUTHATSWANA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE, 1974-1998 by BENJAMIN KENALEMANG MATSHIDISO MOLOKOE Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY in the FACULTY OF HUMAN AND SOCIAL SCIENCES at the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH WEST SUPERVISOR: Prof. A.H. Manson DECEMBER 2000 1 DECLARATION I declare that the thesis for the degree Doctor of Philosophy at the University ofNorth West hereby submitted, has not been submitted by me for a degree at this or any other University, that it is my own work in design and execution and that all material contained herein has been duly acknowledged. 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My very sincere gratitude is due to the many kind people who have given so much help and support. Special thanks go to: • Professor A.H. Manson, for his scholarly advice, exceptionally prompt and insightful responses to written submissions, warm encouragement and delightful sense of humour. His constructive criticisms have enriched this research. • The staff of History Department of the University of North West for their support. • The staff of the Africa Institute of South Africa for their assistance in the production of the News Paper reports relevant to my research. • Mrs Dikeledi Gaebee, the Secretary for the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology of the University of the North West for her patience and dedication while typing this work. • Mr de Klerk of Geography Department at the University of the North West for the drawing of Maps. • The co-operation obtained from former Bophuthatswana Government officials and the North West Provincial Government officials is highly appreciated. • My wife, Rosina and my sons, Goitseone, Gaositwe and Thato for their patience and tolerance when this research forced me to be away ~fr.om home, denying them my presence. { NW U · I LIBRARY • The National Research Foundation ( formerly HSRC) for its financial assistance to carry out this research. NRF is however, not responsible for any opinion or views expressed in this work. 111 ABSTRACT This thesis is about the history of Bophuthatswana from 197 4 and its impact on the North West Province. Bophuthatswana was one of the homelands created by the Nationalist Government for different ethnic groups of black South Africans and it became an independent 'state' (in the South African context) in 1977 under kgosi L.M. Mangope as its president. This was done within the Grand Apartheid plan as an attempt to prevent the growth of African Nationalism and a Black united political front against White domination. The Nationalist Government thought that this could assist in the preservation of White Supremacy. Independent homeland 'states' remained integral parts of South Africa, their policies were monitored and they were also funded by South Africa. This type of relationship degenerated into a Neo-Colonial relationship, or what has been termed internal co 1oniali sm. Despite a lack of legitimacy for homeland independence, in the eyes of South African government, Bophuthatswana became a shining example of the homeland states. It introduced tangible changes, moving away from the Apartheid system by creating a non racial society, introducing a totally new constitutional model which contained a Bill of Rights, instituting a Multi-Cultural Education system which theoretically provided equal opportunities to all, and attempting to establish an independent economy. Though it continued like all other homelands to receive funding :from South Africa, Bophuthatswana was considered to have organised a sounder economy than all South Africa's homelands. On the political field Bophuthatswana's quest for international recognition became an illusive exercise as the international community rejected homelands and perceived them as creations of Apartheid. Moreover as Bophuthatswana came under mounting political pressure from within South Africa and internationally, it resorted to increasingly oppressive rule. With the dawn of new democratic South Africa in 1994, Bophuthatswana disappeared dramatically from the political scene. The events leading up to the fall of Bophuthatswana, the actual collapse of the homeland and the interim administration which followed are discussed fully in this thesis. It was incorporated into the North West Province, forming almost half of the Province and also providing the largest sector in terms of infrastructure, human and economic resources. This legacy was however not fully utilised by the new government for political motives and in cases the infrastructure was left to collapse in disuse. The failure of the North West Provincial Government to build on foundations of earlier strides taken by Bophuthatswana especially in the fields of Education and Economy became a major constraint in service delivery. The artificiality of the original Bophuthatswana state meant that it was often neither rational nor economic for the NWPG to follow the Bophuthatswana model. On a political level the North-West Provincial government obviously had to distance itself from the Bophuthatswana past. IV ABBREVIATIONS AGRJCOR Agricultural Development Corporation ANC African National Congress APLA African People's Liberation Army ARMSCOR Armaments Supply Corporation AVU Afrikaner Vryheid Unie AWB Afrikaner Weerstands Beweging AZAPO Azanian People's Organization BBC Bophuthatswana Broadcasting Corporation BCM Black Consciousness Movement BDF Bophuthatswana Defence Force BDP Bophuthatswana Democratic Party BENBO Bureau for Economic Research re Bantu Development BLA Bophuthatswana Legislative Assembly BNP Bophuthatswana National Party BNDC Bophuthatswana National Development Corporation BNPF Bophuthatswana National Provident Fund BNSU Bophuthatswana National Security Unit BOMIFRA Bophuthatswana Ministers Fraternity BOPSOL Bophuthatswana Professional Soccer League BPC Black People's Convention BPF Bophuthatswana Police Force BUF Black United Front CAD Central Archival Depository CCB Consumer Council of Bophuthatswana CDP Christian Democratic Party CED Cape Education Department CEO Chief Executive Officer CLO Community Liaison Officer CODESA Convention for Democratic South Africa COSAG Concerned South African Group COSAS Congress of South African Students COSATU Congress of South African Trade Unions V CP Conservative Party CPA Cape Provincial Administration DDG Deputy Director General DET Department of Education and Training DOE Department of Education DP Democratic Party EXCO Executive Council FA Freedom Alliance FNB First National Bank GNU Government of National Unity GST General Sales Tax INSET Inservice Training KGB Committee for State Security (Russia) MD Managing Director MEC Member of the Executive Council MEUP Middle School Education Upgrading Programme MK Mkhonto Wesizwe MP Member of Parliament NAD National Archival Depository NEHAWU National Education and Health Allied Workers Union NGO Non Governmental Organization NIEC National Inservice Education Centre NP National Party NSP National Seoposengwe Party NUM National Union of Mineworkers NWDC North West Development Corporation NWED North West Education Department NWPG North West Provincial Government OAU Organisation of African Unity OBE Outcomes Based Education pp Progressive Party PAC Pan Africanist Congress PEUP Primary Education Upgrading Programme Vl PPP People Progressive Party PSC Public Service Commission SA South Africa SABRA South African Bureau of Racial Affairs SACC South African Council of Churches SACP South African Communist Party SADF South African Defence Force SADTU South African Democratic Teachers Union SANDF South African National Defence Force SASCO South African Students Congress SASO South African Student Organization SATSWA South Africa - Bophuthatswana Steering Committee SBD Small Business Division SEBO Sefalana Employees Benefit Organisation SMT Senior Management Team SRC Students Representative Council STANBO Standard Bank of Bophuthatswana TBVC Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei TEC Transitional Executive Council TED Transvaal Education Department TPA Transvaal Provincial Administration TLA Tswana Legislative Assembly TNP Tswana National Party TTA Tswana Territorial Authority UCDP United Christian Democratic Party UDF United Democratic Front UIF Unemployment Insurance Fund UN United Nations UNIBO University of Bophuthatswana UNIWEST University of North West VSP Voluntary Severance Package WCF Workmen's Compensation Fund Vll GLOSSARY Bafaladi Foreigners/ Aliens Bana ba ya ntlo children born out of a relation of a man and his late brother's wife Bogosi traditional 1eadershi p Bogwera male initiation rites Bojale female initiation rites Diboka totems Dikinane tales Dinaane Folklores Kgosana Headman Kgosi ( dikgosi) Batswana traditional leader (s), equivalent to king Lefatshe la bo rra rona Land of our fathers (father land) Letsema ploughing activity(voluntary work group) Maleta Motse village guard Mmemogolo mother's elder sister Mmutla Hare (rabbit) Mophato Age regiment Rakgadi Father's sister (aunt) Rangwane Father's younger brother Re ka kgona We can (BDP motto) Rremogolo Father's elder brother Temisano co-operative crop-farming Tshwene baboon Vlll TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES Declaration . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Acknowledgements ..... ........ ........ .... .................................. ...................... ii Abstract

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