His excellency King Patrick Ramaano Mphephu (c. 1924 – 17 April 1988) was the first president of the bantustan of Venda, which was granted nominal independence from South Africa on 13 September 1979.[5]

Patrick Mphephu
1st President of Venda
In office
13 September 1979 – 17 April 1988[1]
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byFrank Ravele[2]
Chief Minister of Venda
In office
1 February 1973 – 13 September 1979
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byNone
Chief Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority
In office
c. August 1969 – 1 February 1973
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byNone
Chief Executive Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority
In office
c. 1962 – c. August 1969
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byNone
Personal details
Born
Patrick Ramaano Mphephu

c. 1924
Dzanani, Transvaal, South Africa
Died17 April 1988[3]
Thohoyandou, Venda
Political partyNational Party of Venda[4]

Mphephu was born in Dzanani settlement and after graduating from high school worked for the Johannesburg City Council. A paramount chief of the Venda people, he was appointed Chairman of the Ramabulana Regional Authority in 1959, Chief Counsellor of the Venda Legislative Assembly on 1 June 1971 and Chief Minister of the two discontiguous territories on 1 February 1973 when South Africa first implemented the black homeland policy. Mphephu was reelected in elections in August 1973 and his title changed to president upon independence. As president, he was also leader of the Venda National Party, the only recognized political party in the new state. Mphephu died in office and was replaced by his finance minister, Chief Frank Ravele.

References

edit
  1. ^ "South African Homelands". worldstatesmen.org.
  2. ^ "The Venda National Assembly elects a new state president, Mr Frank Ravele, after the death of Chief Patrick Mphephu in April. | South African History Online". Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Patrick Mphephu, Homeland Leader, 63". The New York Times. 21 April 1988.
  4. ^ "Patrick Mphephu | president of Venda". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  5. ^ "Venda | South African History Online". sahistory.org.za.
Political offices
New title President of Venda
1979–1988
Succeeded by