Paramount Chief of Eastern Pondoland, Botha Sigcau who had earlier supported Bantu Authorities was appointed the first President of Transkei at the opening session of the Transkei Assembly. Kaizer Matanzima became the Prime Minister as Transkei became the first Homeland to gain independence in 1976. On 30 December 1987, Major General Bantu Holomisa, commander of the Transkei Defence Force (TDF), led a bloodless coup against the Transkei government under Stella Sigcau.
eventREF E-0096550Revised
26 October 1976
Paramount Chief, Botha Sigcau is appointed the first President of Transkei
- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019
How we know this
- 01O’Malley, P. ‘1976’, from Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, [online], available at www.nelsonmandela.org.za (Accessed: 30 September 2013)
- 02 Stapleton, J.T. (2001) Faku: Rulership and Colonialism in the Mpondo Kingdom (c. 1780-1867), (Wilfrid Laurier University Press) p. 139
- 03South African History Online, ‘Bantu Holomisa deposes Stella Sigcau as President of the Transkei’, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za (Accessed: 01 October 2013)
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2013, October 24). Paramount Chief, Botha Sigcau is appointed the first President of Transkei. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096550
South African History Online (2013) 'Paramount Chief, Botha Sigcau is appointed the first President of Transkei', South African History Online, 24 October. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096550 (Accessed: 10 November 2026).
South African History Online, Paramount Chief, Botha Sigcau is appointed the first President of Transkei [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096550, (accessed 10 November 2026).
"Paramount Chief, Botha Sigcau is appointed the first President of Transkei." South African History Online, 24 Oct. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096550. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.
South African History Online. "Paramount Chief, Botha Sigcau is appointed the first President of Transkei." South African History Online. October 24, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096550.
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