Chief George Mzimvubu Mathanzima (26 December 1918 in Qamata – 10 November 2000) was a leader of the

Transkei Transkei (, meaning ''the area beyond he riverKei''), officially the Republic of Transkei ( xh, iRiphabliki yeTranskei), was an unrecognised state in the southeastern region of South Africa from 1976 to 1994. It was, along with Ciskei, a Ba ...

bantustan A Bantustan (also known as Bantu homeland, black homeland, black state or simply homeland; ) was a territory that the National Party administration of South Africa set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa (now ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

, a young brother of

Kaiser Matanzima King Kaiser Daliwonga Mathanzima, misspelled Matanzima (15 June 1915 – 15 June 2003), was the long-term leader of Transkei. In 1950, when South Africa was offered to establish the Bantu Authorities Act, Matanzima convinced the Bunga to accep ...

and a nephew of Nelson Mandela. He and his brother, Kaiser co-founded and led the Transkei National Independence Party.George Matanzima
SAHistory.org Mathanzima was appointed as

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

of Transkei after his brother became President. He served as Prime Minister from 20 February 1979 to 24 September 1987.

Bantu Holomisa Bantubonke Harrington Holomisa (born 25 July 1955) is a South African Member of Parliament and President of the United Democratic Movement. Holomisa was born in Mqanduli, Cape Province. He joined the Transkei Defence Force in 1976 and had b ...

forced his resignation and exile in October 1987.

Stella Sigcau Princess Stella Sigcau (4 or 14 January 1937 in Lusikisiki – 7 May 2006 in Durban) was a Minister in the South African Government. Sigcau was also the first female Prime Minister of the bantustan of Transkei before being deposed in a milit ...

succeeded him as Prime Minister, but Holomisa forced her out of office and took power himself in December 1987.

Government crackdown

The independence of the Transkei was widely rejected by critics of the Nationalist government worldwide. Some of the most vocal critics came from within the Transkei itself, from the leaders of the Black Consciousness Movement rejecting the move for statehood."The Road to Democracy in South Africa"
(2004, Pg 774). SADET. Accessed: 10 August 2018. In the lead up to the independence-day celebrations of 1976, Matanzima detained political activists and cultural artists under Proclamation 400, an act similar in function to the Apartheid government's Terrorism Act. George Matanzima banned the Democratic Progressive Party that was led by the AbaThembu King

Sabata Dalindyebo Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo (1928–1986) was the ruler of the Thembu Kingdom. He was the son of Jongilizwe Sampu Dalindyebo. His rule was marked by conflict with Kaiser Matanzima. This political conflict escalated until Sabata was arrested in ...

. He was accused of bringing the President Kaiser Matanzima's name into disrepute, as a result having his crown taken away."Leader of The Transkei". Overcoming Apartheid Building Democracy. Accessed: 10 August 2018.
/ref> The 1980s saw an even more severe crackdown by Matanzima, arresting journalists and students who were vocal about the Transkei government.

Corruption charges

By the mid 1980s, Matanzima's position as Prime Minister was brought into question when an audit launched by the Nationalist government of South Africa revealed the embezzlement of state funds by Matanzima and his brother.
1987. ''New York Times''. Accessed: 10 August 2018. This led to an investigation over the accepting of $500,000 in kickbacks from a Lebanese businessman who needed to secure a housing contract in the Transkei. Further claims were made that South African business tycoon

Sol Kerzner Solomon Kerzner, (23 August 1935 – 21 March 2020) was a South African accountant and business magnate. He founded both of South Africa's largest hotel groups, the Southern Sun Hotel Group and Sun International. He was also the Founder, Chair ...

paid Matanzima and some members of his cabinet two million Rand in order to secure exclusive gambling rights in the Transkei."A Transkei Princess"
2006. ''Mail and Guardian''. Accessed: 10 August 2018. By this time Matanzima had been elected president of the Transkei National Independence Party."Heads of State and Governments since 1945", 1995. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishing. Accessed: 10 August 2018.
/ref> The relationship between the Matanzima brothers soured when a dispute over party candidate selections emerged. Kaizer Matanzima testified against his brother during the 1987 Alexander Commission of Inquiry, headed by Judge Alexander. The judge made recommendations that Matanzima's case be referred to the Attorney General.
May 24, 1996. SAPA. Accessed: 10 August 2018. As a result, George Matanzima banished his brother Kaizer Matanzima from the Transkei.

Coup

In 1987 then Defence Force chief Major General Bantu Holomisa orchestrated a coup against George Matanzima in the wake of the massive corruption scandal. Six of his cabinet ministers were forced to resign by Gen. Holomisa as they were found to have unduly benefited from Matanzima's network. Matanzima's successor was Stella Sigcau, daughter of Paramount Chief

Botha Sigcau King Botha Sigcau (died 1 December 1978) was a King in Eastern Pondoland, Transkei, South Africa (1939–1976) and later the figurehead President of Transkei from 1976 to 1978. A graduate of University of Fort Hare, Sigcau was an early supporter ...

. She too was linked to having accepted kickbacks from George Matanzima, and was subsequently requested to vacate her position as Prime Minister. Matanzima fled to

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

, fearing arrest. The Nationalist government of South Africa gave him an assurance that he would not be detained, but on his return he was forced to hand himself over to the authorities. He was sentenced to nine years in prison, but only served three of those years. George Matanzima died in Queenstown, in November 2000."Former Prime Minister of Transkei Dies", 10 November 2000. SAHO. Accessed: 10 August 2018.
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matanzima, George 1918 births 2000 deaths People from Intsika Yethu Local Municipality Prime Ministers of Transkei Transkei National Independence Party politicians Leaders ousted by a coup Xhosa people Heads of government who were later imprisoned

Government crackdown

Corruption charges

Coup

See also

References