George Matanzima

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George Mzimvube Matanzima (born December 26, 1918 in Qamata , † November 10, 2000 in Queenstown ) was a lawyer, minister and later Prime Minister of the Republic of Transkei and a South African politician.

George Matanzima was the son of Mhlolo Mvuso Matanzima Mtirara, who was chief of the emigrant group Thembus . Matanzima grew up in the first years of his life in western Tembuland and was given schooling at Lovedale College with Alice . Here he passed his matric in 1940 to study at the South African Native College , where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in 1944 . Matanzima would have liked to continue on his previous academic career, but decided to pursue a professional path in the legal field. Therefore, in 1949 (according to other information in 1951) he passed the attorney -at-law exam . Matanzima was active in this profession in Engcobo until 1959. He then took over the traditional leadership role in Emigrant Thembuland as Chief for two years .

His political career began at the beginning of 1963. It was the year when the Transkei National Independence Party (TNIP), founded by his brother Emperor Matanzima and himself, won the elections for the Transkeian Legislative Assembly and assumed political leadership. He became a member of the Transkeian Legislative Assembly (German about: "Legislative Assembly of the Transkei") and the Transkeian Territorial Authority (administrative authority) in several committees of this body. In 1964 Matanzima took over the office of Minister of Justice in the Transkei administration, in 1967 that of Minister of Education and was again active as Minister of Justice from 1971 to 1978. He was later appointed Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the Transkei. During the last term of office the transition (1976) from the self-governing homeland to the supposedly independent Republic of Transkei took place. In January 1979 he finally took over the post of Prime Minister. During this time, relations between the Transkei and neighboring Ciskei deteriorated because its president Lennox Sebe is said to have disapproved of the Transkei's declaration of independence.

In 1976 he toured North America and Europe.

On October 1, 1987, George Matanzima resigned on allegations of corruption during a bloody military coup ( September coup ) by Bantu Holomisa and fled to South Africa. The coup d'état denied a forced resignation and his flight. According to their portrayals, he stayed in Port Elizabeth for health reasons . According to other sources, on September 23, 1987, armed members of the Transkei Defense Force visited six ministers and two of their deputies, who pressured them to sign their resignation letters under threat of firearms. That same night George Matanzima traveled to Port Elizabeth.

Personal

George Matanzima died in Frontier Hospital in Queenstown.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b South African History Online : Chief George Mzimvubu Mathanzima, former Prime Minister of Transkei, dies . on www.sahistory.org.za (English)
  2. ↑ a b c d Sheila Keeble (ed.), SPP Kutumela, A. Booley: The Black Who's Who of Southern Africa Today . African Business Publ., Johannesburg 1979, 1st edition, p. 179.
  3. ↑ a b c Shelag Gastrow: Who's Who in South African politics, Number Two . Ravan Press, Johannesburg 1987, p. 169.
  4. ^ SAIRR : A Survey of Race Relations in South Africa 1966 . Johannesburg 1967, p. 126.
  5. ^ South African History Online: Transkei Defense Force topples Transkei Bantustan leader George Matanzima, but denies coup . on www.sahistory.org.za (English)
  6. ^ SAIRR: Race Relations Survey 1987/88 . Johannesburg 1988, p. 934.
personal data
SURNAME Matanzima, George
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Matanzima, George Mzimvube (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION South African politician
DATE OF BIRTH December 26, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH Qamata , Transkei , South African Union
DATE OF DEATH November 10, 2000
Place of death Queenstown , South Africa