South Africa - Venda

Venda was a Bantustan in northern South Africa, which is fairly close to the South African border with Zimbabwe to the north, while to the south and east, it shared a long border with another black homeland, Gazankulu. It is now part of the Limpopo province. Venda was founded as a homeland by the South African government for the Venda people, speakers of the Venda language. The United Nations and international community refused to recognize Venda (or any other Bantustan) as an independent state.

Venda was declared self-governing on 1 February 1973, with elections held later in the year. Further elections were held in July 1978. The territory was declared independent by the South African government on 13 September 1979 and its residents lost their South African citizenship. In common with other Bantustans, its independence was not recognised by the international community.

Venda was initially a series of non-contiguous territories in the Transvaal, with one main part and one main exclave. Its capital, formerly at Sibasa, was moved to Thohoyandou (which included the old Sibasa administrative district) when Venda was declared independent in 1979. Prior to independence it was expanded to form one contiguous territory, with a total land area of 6.807 km². In the 1984 elections the ruling Venda National Party retained its position as ruling party, beating the perpetual opposition Venda Independent People's Party (VIPP).

At independence in 1979, the population of Vhavenda stood at about 200.000 people. The state was cut off from neighbouring Zimbabwe by the Madimbo corridor, patrolled by South African troops, to the North, and from nearby Mozambique by the Kruger National Park.

The first President of Venda, Patrick Mphephu, was also a Paramount Chief of the Vhavenda people; he was born and lived in Dzanani in Limpopo. His successor, Orifuna Ndou, was overthrown in a military coup by the Venda Defence Force in 1990, after which the territory was ruled by the Council of National Unity. Venda was re-absorbed into South Africa on 27 April 1994.

I had noticed on Facebook that stamps from the four homelands were still valid for use in South Africa, so I began buying old stamps to put on envelopes. When the homelands issued their stamps (until 1994) the postal rates were much lower than now so only small values were issued. This means that a lot of stamps are needed to make up the current tariff. On the positive side it makes a very attractive envelope.

I sent the cover to the post office in the former capital city of Venda, Thohoyandou, and it arrived back in just over a month, making it my second cover from Africa.

Date sent: 1 May 2017

Date postmark: 18 May 2017

Date received: 6 June 2017

Number of days: 36

Envelope in collection: 142