Cedric Phatudi
Encyclopedia
Cedric Namedi Phatudi was the Chief Minister of Lebowa
, one of the controversial South Africa
n bantustan
s.
Born in Mphahlele, Phatudi initially worked as a teacher and educational administrator before attending the University of Fort Hare
, gaining a BA in 1947 and a teaching diploma in 1950 at the University of Witwatersrand, graduating with a BEd in 1965. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the North in 1973, after which Phatudi encouraged others to use the Dr prefix wherever possible when referring to him.
Phatudi served as President of the Federation of Inspectors of Schools in South Africa from 1958 to 1969 before becoming involved in the nascent Lebowa nation building exercise and had risen in prominence to the extent that when Lebowa was granted self-government on October 2, 1972, Phatudi was appointed Minister for Education before his election as Chief Minister on May 8, 1973. Not one for wasting time settling into the role, Phatudi had been Chief Minister for one day when he informed the South African government that if Lebowa was to become self-sufficient then substantial tracts of South Africa, including a number of white towns, would need to be added to Lebowa territory. The statement was not well received in Pretoria
, although they did eventually transfer several small tracts of land to Lebowa.
The earlier outburst aside, Phatudi was considered the most tactful of the bantustan leaders, with a modus operandi
directed more at calm negotiations with Pretoria and dissident bodies than the angry outbursts epitomised by leaders like the Transkei
's Kaiser Matanzima
. However, when these failed, Phatudi was not above unleashing his police against political opponents.
Economic problems continued to plague Lebowa however and Phatudi struggled to maintain control over the increasingly disgruntled homeland population throughout his rule. Phatudi died in office in 1987; Lebowa itself only lasted another seven years before its reintegration into South Africa.
Lebowa
Lebowa was a bantustan located in the Transvaal in north eastern South Africa. 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...
, one of the controversial South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n bantustan
Bantustan
A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa , as part of the policy of apartheid...
s.
Born in Mphahlele, Phatudi initially worked as a teacher and educational administrator before attending the University of Fort Hare
University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style, academically excellent education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black...
, gaining a BA in 1947 and a teaching diploma in 1950 at the University of Witwatersrand, graduating with a BEd in 1965. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the North in 1973, after which Phatudi encouraged others to use the Dr prefix wherever possible when referring to him.
Phatudi served as President of the Federation of Inspectors of Schools in South Africa from 1958 to 1969 before becoming involved in the nascent Lebowa nation building exercise and had risen in prominence to the extent that when Lebowa was granted self-government on October 2, 1972, Phatudi was appointed Minister for Education before his election as Chief Minister on May 8, 1973. Not one for wasting time settling into the role, Phatudi had been Chief Minister for one day when he informed the South African government that if Lebowa was to become self-sufficient then substantial tracts of South Africa, including a number of white towns, would need to be added to Lebowa territory. The statement was not well received in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, although they did eventually transfer several small tracts of land to Lebowa.
The earlier outburst aside, Phatudi was considered the most tactful of the bantustan leaders, with a modus operandi
Modus operandi
Modus operandi is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation". The term is used to describe someone's habits or manner of working, their method of operating or functioning...
directed more at calm negotiations with Pretoria and dissident bodies than the angry outbursts epitomised by leaders like the Transkei
Transkei
The Transkei , officially the Republic of Transkei , was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa...
's Kaiser Matanzima
Kaiser Matanzima
Kaiser Matanzima was a former leader of the Transkei in South Africa.-Biography:Born in Qamata, Eastern Cape, a nephew of Nelson Mandela, Matanzima received the name Daliwonga upon reaching manhood as an "isikhahlelo" . It means "Maker of Majesty"...
. However, when these failed, Phatudi was not above unleashing his police against political opponents.
Economic problems continued to plague Lebowa however and Phatudi struggled to maintain control over the increasingly disgruntled homeland population throughout his rule. Phatudi died in office in 1987; Lebowa itself only lasted another seven years before its reintegration into South Africa.