Venda (Bantustan)
Republic of Venda | |||||||||
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| 1979–1994 | |||||||||
Flag
Coat of arms
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| Motto: "Shumela Venda" (Venda) "Always Aspire for Venda" | |||||||||
| Anthem: Pfano na vhuthihi (Venda)a Peace and Togetherness | |||||||||
Location of Venda (red) within South Africa (yellow). | |||||||||
| Status | Bantustan (de facto; independence not internationally recognised) | ||||||||
| Capital | Thohoyandou 22°57′S 30°29′E / 22.95°S 30.48°E | ||||||||
| Official languages | Venda English Afrikaans | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
• 1979–1988 | Patrick Mphephu | ||||||||
• 1988–1990 | Frank Ravele | ||||||||
| Head of State | |||||||||
• 1990–1994 | Gabriel Ramushwana | ||||||||
• Jan–Apr 1994 | Tshamano Ramabulana | ||||||||
| Legislature | Legislative Assembly | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Self-government | 1 February 1973 | ||||||||
• Nominal independence | 13 September 1979 | ||||||||
| 5 April 1990 | |||||||||
• Dissolution | 27 April 1994 | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
| 1980 | 7,410 km2 (2,860 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1980 | 315,545 | ||||||||
• 1991 | 558,797 | ||||||||
| Currency | South African rand | ||||||||
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Venda (/ˈvɛndə/ VEN-də), officially the Republic of Venda (Venda: Riphabuliki ya Venḓa; Afrikaans: Republiek van Venda), was a Bantustan in northern South Africa. It was fairly close to the South African border with Zimbabwe to the north, while, to the south and east, it shared a long border with another black homeland, Gazankulu. It is now part of the Limpopo province. Venda was founded by the South African government as a homeland for the Venda people, speakers of the Venda language. The United Nations and international community refused to recognise Venda (or any other Bantustan) as an independent state.