Lebowa

Lebowa
Bantustan
1972–1994
Flag Coat of arms Coat of arms
Location of Lebowa Location of Lebowa (red) within South Africa (yellow).
Capital		Lebowakgomo
Languages		Northern Sotho
Political structure		Bantustan
History
•	Self-government	2 October 1972
•	Re-integrated into South Africa	27 April 1994
Area
•	1980
Population
•	1980 est.	1,700,000
Density
•	1991 est.	2,740,587
Currency		South African rand
Preceded by Succeeded by Republic of South Africa Republic of South Africa

Lebowa was a bantustan ("homeland") located in the Transvaal in north eastern South Africa. Seshego initially acted as Lebowa's capital while the purpose-built Lebowakgomo was being constructed. Granted internal self-government on 2 October 1972 and ruled for much of its existence by Cedric Phatudi, Lebowa was reincorporated into South Africa in 1994. It became part of the Limpopo province. The territory was not contiguous, being divided into two major and several minor portions.

Even though Lebowa included swathes of Sekukuniland and was seen as a home for the Northern Sotho speaking tribes such as the Pedi people, it was also home for various non Northern Sotho Speaking tribes, including the Northern Ndebele, Batswana and VaTsonga.

Districts in 1991

Districts of the province and population at the 1991 census.

• Namakgale: 55,441
• Bolobedu: 196,669
• Sekgosese: 124,425
• Bochum: 149,869
• Mokerong: 446,155
• Seshego: 302,676
• Thabamoopo: 353,193
• Nebo: 324,909
• Sekhukhuneland: 404,335
• Naphuno: 167,665
• Mapulaneng: 215,250

See also

• Chief Ministers of Lebowa
• Sekukuniland
• Kgautswana