Editing Transkei (section)

===Troubled existence===
Throughout its existence, Transkei's economy remained dependent on [[Economy of South Africa|that of its larger neighbour]], with the local population being recruited as workers into South Africa's [[Witwatersrand|Rand]] mines.<ref>{{citation |last=Bush |first=Barbara |title=Imperialism, race, and resistance: Africa and Britain, 1919–1945 |year=1999 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=0-415-15973-3 |page=147 }}</ref>

Because of a territorial dispute,<ref>{{Citation |last1=Wood |first1=Geoffrey |last2=Mills |first2=Greg |year=1992 |title=The present and future role of the Transkei defence force in a changing South Africa |journal=Journal of Contemporary African Studies |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=255–269 |doi=10.1080/02589009208729541 }}</ref> Matanzima announced on 10 April 1978 that Transkei would break all diplomatic ties with South Africa,<ref>{{Citation |last=Burns |first=John F. |date=11 April 1978 |title=Transkei Breaks Diplomatic Tie, Its Only One, With South Africans |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/11/archives/new-jersey-pages-transkei-breaks-diplomatic-tie-its-only-one-with.html |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722214202/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/11/archives/new-jersey-pages-transkei-breaks-diplomatic-tie-its-only-one-with.html |archive-date=22 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> including a unilateral withdrawal from the [[non-aggression pact]] between the two governments, and ordered that all [[South African Defence Force]] members seconded to the [[Transkei Defence Force]] should leave. This created the unique situation of a country refusing to deal with the only internationally recognised nation it was recognised by. Matanzima soon backed down in the face of Transkei's dependence on South African economic aid.

During his rule, Matanzima arrested state officials and journalists at will; in late 1979, he detained the head of the newly formed ''[[Democratic Progressive Party (Transkei)|Democratic Progressive Party]]'', [[Sabata Dalindyebo]], king of the [[Thembu people]] and vocal opponent of apartheid, for violating the dignity and injuring the reputation of the president.<ref>{{citation |editor=South African Democracy Education Trust |title=The Road to Democracy in South Africa: 1970–1980 |year=2006 |publisher=Unisa Press |location=Pretoria |isbn=1-86888-406-6 |page=778 }}</ref> Dalindyebo went into exile in [[Zambia]], a move that marked the end of [[Parliamentary opposition|official opposition politics]] in Transkei,<ref name=sa_dem_ed780 /> and in the 1981 election, the ruling ''Transkei National Independence Party'' was re-elected, gaining 100% of all open seats.<ref>{{Citation|title=Elections in Apartheid-Era Black Homelands "Bantustans"|url=http://africanelections.tripod.com/za_homelands.html|access-date=11 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607022954/http://africanelections.tripod.com/za_homelands.html|archive-date=7 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 20 February 1986, faced with South African evidence of corruption, Matanzima was forced to retire as president. He was succeeded by his brother [[George Matanzima|George]]. Kaiser Matanzima was still described as Transkei's effective leader for a time,<ref name=dispatch>{{cite news |title=Leader of Tribe Seizes S. African Rebel's Body |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/04/21/leader-of-tribe-seizes-s-african-rebels-body/ |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=21 April 1986 |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714202244/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-04-21/news/8601290013_1_tribal-nelson-mandela-body |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> but soon the two fell out and Kaiser was temporarily detained in the Transkei gaols in 1987; upon release, he was restricted to [[Qamata, Eastern Cape|Qamata]].

In 1987, Transkei, a larger, wealthier and more populous entity, had long sought the annexation of Ciskei, and had undertaken a series of military raids on Ciskei.<ref name="ucPressCiskeivsTranskei">{{Cite web |url=https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft158004rs&chunk.id=d0e9770&toc.id=d0e9714&brand=ucpress |title=The Creation of Tribalism in Southern Africa |access-date=12 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812043723/https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft158004rs&chunk.id=d0e9770&toc.id=d0e9714&brand=ucpress |archive-date=12 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ucThreatTranskei">{{Cite web |url=https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft158004rs&chunk.id=d0e9922&toc.depth=1&toc.id=d0e9714&brand=ucpress |title=The Creation of Tribalism in Southern Africa |access-date=12 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812044002/https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft158004rs&chunk.id=d0e9922&toc.depth=1&toc.id=d0e9714&brand=ucpress |archive-date=12 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> This included an attack on leader Lennox Sebe's compound, with the apparent goal of taking him hostage, in order to force a merger of the two Bantustans.<ref name="waPoHomelandsDoBattle">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/02/20/2-south-african-homelands-do-battle/a6765fb9-de59-4ad1-bdb0-06c78e7e501c/ |title=2 SOUTH AFRICAN 'HOMELANDS' DO BATTLE - the Washington Post |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=12 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812085710/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/02/20/2-south-african-homelands-do-battle/a6765fb9-de59-4ad1-bdb0-06c78e7e501c/ |archive-date=12 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The South African government intervened to warn the Transkei government off.<ref name="ucPressCiskeivsTranskei"/>

General [[Bantu Holomisa]] of the [[Transkei Defence Force]] forced the resignation and [[exile]] of Prime Minister [[George Matanzima]] in October 1987<ref name=dd>{{cite news|first=Abongile|last=Mgaqelwa|title=Matanzima dies after hijack|url=http://www.dispatch.co.za/11815/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130808011338/http://www.dispatch.co.za/11815/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-08-08|work=[[Daily Dispatch]]|date=2013-08-08|access-date=2013-08-31}}</ref><ref name=sahistory>{{cite news |title=Chief George Mzimvubu Mathanzima, former Prime Minister of Transkei, dies |url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/chief-george-mzimvubu-mathanzima-former-prime-minister-transkei-dies |work=South Africa History Online |date=2000-11-10 |access-date=2013-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714163543/http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/chief-george-mzimvubu-mathanzima-former-prime-minister-transkei-dies |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> and then overthrew Matanzima's successor, [[Prime Minister]] [[Stella Sigcau]] in [[1987 Transkei coup d'état|a bloodless coup d'état]]<ref name="mg2006">
{{cite news
|title=Stella Sigcau dead at 69
|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2006-05-08-stella-sigcau-dead-at-69
|publisher=Mail&Guardian
|date=2006-05-08
|access-date=2007-12-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714154326/http://mg.co.za/article/2006-05-08-stella-sigcau-dead-at-69
|archive-date=14 July 2014
|url-status=live}}
</ref> in December 1987. Holomisa became the Head of State,<ref>{{Citation|title=General Bantubonke Harrington "Bantu" Holomisa (profile)|url=http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=950|work=Who's Who in Southern Africa|publisher=24.com|access-date=2009-07-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117204239/http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=950|archive-date=17 November 2007}}</ref> and the Transkei was from that point onwards effectively in (often uneasy) alliance with the African National Congress and provided a relatively safe area for the ANC's activities. In 1990, Holomisa himself evaded a failed attempt to be ousted from his post, and when asked about the fate of his opponents, he claimed that they had died in the ensuing battles with ''TDF'' soldiers.<ref>{{Citation |date=23 November 1990 |title=Black Homeland reports uprising |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/23/world/black-homeland-reports-uprising.html |access-date=20 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206174733/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/23/world/black-homeland-reports-uprising.html |archive-date=6 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was later found that those deemed responsible for the foiled coup had only suffered minor injuries, but were subsequently executed without trial.<ref>{{Citation |publisher=South African Press Association |date=19 June 1996 |title=Truth Body hears startling new claims on Transkei coup attempt |url=http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/media/1996/9606/s960619e.htm |access-date=12 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050111224934/http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/media/1996/9606/s960619e.htm |archive-date=11 January 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref>