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eventREF E-0012449Revised

Event record

Prime Minister P.W. Botha announces Ciskei will become independent on 4 December 1981

Date
20 Feb 1981
Updated
30 Sep 2019
Prime Minister P.W. Botha announces Ciskei will become independent on 4 December 1981

The homeland known as Ciskei, between the Fish and the Kei River, was created between 1961 and 1982 by the then Nationalist Party Government.. This was done as part of the Government's plan to further its programme of Apartheid by excluding the majority of Black South Africans from South Africa proper. The Bantustans would then function as labour reserves for white South Africa. It is estimated that over 300 000 people were forcibly removed to Ciskei between 1970 and 1982.  The establishment of the homelands also went hand in hand with a stricter enforcement of Pass laws. Ciskei was declared a self-governing territory in 1972. The Chief Minister of the time was Justice Mabandla. While Botha may have announced that Ciskei would be independent on the 4 of December 1981, in reality Ciskei only became 'independent' from South Africa in December 1982.

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How we know this

  1. 01Peires J.B  Ciskei in An Illustrated Dictionary of South African History (1994),  Saunders.C.C,(ed), (Ibis Books: Sandton)

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Prime Minister P.W. Botha announces Ciskei will become independent on 4 December 1981. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012449

South African History Online (2011) 'Prime Minister P.W. Botha announces Ciskei will become independent on 4 December 1981', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012449 (Accessed: 8 August 2026).

South African History Online, Prime Minister P.W. Botha announces Ciskei will become independent on 4 December 1981 [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012449, (accessed 8 August 2026).

"Prime Minister P.W. Botha announces Ciskei will become independent on 4 December 1981." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012449. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Prime Minister P.W. Botha announces Ciskei will become independent on 4 December 1981." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012449.

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