Princess Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin '' princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subs ...

Stella Sigcau (4 or 14 January 1937 in

Lusikisiki Lusikisiki is a town in the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The name is onomatopoeic, derived from the rustling sound of reeds in the wind, named by the local Xhosa people. Lusikisiki is 45 kilometers ...

– 7 May 2006 in

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

) was a Minister in the

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

n Government. Sigcau was also the first female

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 is ...

of the

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 (n ...

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 ...

before being deposed in a military coup in 1987.

Early life and career

She was the daughter of King Botha Sigcau of the AmaMpondo state who was a former President of the Transkei in 1976–1978. Her brothers are King Mpondombini Thandizulu Sigcau and the late ANC activist and Member of Parliament Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau. She named Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau's daughter Princess Stella Sigcau II (Founder: Lwandlolubomvu Rural Development Project) after her. Sigcau graduated from the Loveday Institute in 1954 before marrying Ronald Tshabalala in 1962. She went on to attend the University of Fort Hare. There she joined the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), then graduating with a BA degree majoring in Anthropology and Psychology. She was married for a brief period, her husband Roland Tshabalala died in 1964. She taught in a number of schools in Natal during the 1960s.SAHO. "Stella Margaret Nomzamo Sigcau". South African History Online. Accessed: 31st September 2018
/ref>

Transkei politics

In 1968, she was elected in Transkei representing the seat of

. Prior to the granting of independence, she held a number of portfolios, including energy, education and telecommunications. She was the only woman in the Transkei's cabinet. Sigcau had a frosty relationship with Prime Minister Kaiser Matanzima. Her political ideologies and associations with the ANC Youth League in Fort Hare where in direct opposition to Matanzima's. This she believed was the reason why she found it difficult to secure a post as a teacher in the Eastern Cape,Timothy Gibbs. "The Second Peasant's Revolt, Mpondoland 1960 - 1980". Boydell and Brewer LTD, pg 64. Accessed: 31st September 2018
/ref> as a result she taught in a number of schools in Natal during the 1960s. Even though Sigcau was a part of the

administration, she still maintained links with the ANC, who were operating from Lusaka at the time. Her father Botha Sigcau was king of the Mpondo people, who had influence within the Transkei State. A battle for power ensued between the Mpondo chieftaincy and Matanzima's Transkei government.Timothy Gibbs. "The Second Peasant's Revolt, Mpondoland 1960 - 1980". Boydell and Brewer LTD, pg 66. Accessed: 31st September 2018
/ref> In 1977 she gave birth to her third child after having an affair with Chief JD Moshesh, who was also a government official. Shortly thereafter her father Botha Sigcau died from a long illness. After King Sigcau's death Matanzima was looking to consolidate his authority over the Mpondo people, and he forced Sigcau out of office. Matanzima cited Sigcau and Chief JD Moshesh's affair as a breach of code of conduct for the reasons to recall her from public office. This was met with mixed reactions, given that she was also a widowed princess at the time. After the opening of parliament in 1978 Sigcau led a floor crossing of all Pondoland MPs, and formed the Democratic Progressive Party, but two years later she re-joined the

Transkei National Independence Party The Transkei National Independence Party (TNIP) was a political party in the nominally independent South African homeland of Transkei. It was founded by the Matanzima brothers, Kaiser and George. The party advocated cooperation with the South Afri ...

, which was still the ruling party at the time. After independence, she held the portfolios of Interior Affairs and Posts and Telecommunications. She became the leader of the

on 5 October 1987 and became the third Prime Minister of

two days later. Then Prime Minister and brother to Kaiser Matanzima, George Matanzima was forced to resign from office due to corruption allegations. She defeated Kholisilie Nota and Ngangomhlaba Matanzima to the position, both of whom were male. Her term as Prime Minister did not last long as she was overthrown in a coup by General Bantu Holomisa. This came after Holomisa accused her government of corruption, alleging that Sigcau received bribes in exchange for gambling rights. While she denied these allegations, she conceded to accepting a bursary worth R50 000 from an official in order to pay for her daughter's tuition.

South African politics

Transkei was absorbed back into South Africa after 27 April 1994. Sigcau stood for election as a candidate on the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...

party list and was successful. President

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the ...

appointed her as Minister for Public Enterprises in 1994 and she served in that role, which involved attempts at transforming the face of

South African Airways South African Airways (SAA) is the flag carrier airline of South Africa. Founded in 1934, the airline is headquartered in Airways Park at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and operated a hub-and-spoke network, serving ten dest ...

and Transnet until 1999. She then became Minister of Public Works and served in that capacity until her death in 2006 of heart failure.

External links

South African Cabinet biography of Stella Sigcau

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sigcau, Stella 1937 births 2006 deaths Prime Ministers of Transkei Female heads of government Anti-apartheid activists African National Congress politicians Government ministers of South Africa Members of the National Assembly of South Africa Transkei National Independence Party politicians People from the Eastern Cape Xhosa people Leaders ousted by a coup Women government ministers of South Africa 20th-century South African women politicians 20th-century South African politicians Women members of the National Assembly of South Africa

Early life and career

Transkei politics

South African politics

See also

External links

References