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Lebowa (South African homeland)
Last modified: 2001-04-12 by jarig bakker
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![[Lebowa]](../images/z/za-lebow.gif)
by Mark Sensen
See also:
Lebowa - introduction
Within the "old" South Africa, 10 homelands were created, four of which
were granted "independence" by South Africa (not recognised by any other
country in the world). These former South African Homelands/bantustans
ceased to exist on 27 April 1994. They have all (including the former so
called independent Homelands) been reincorporated into South Africa.
The flags of the former Homelands are no longer in use (either officially
or unofficially).
Bruce Berry, 25 April 1996
In central northern Transvaal, with two main
compactly shaped parts (in today's Northern Province),
and one small uncompact enclave (in today's Mpumalanga)
and small border tracts with Gazankulu.
Antonio Martins, 30 May 1999
Lebowa previously comprised 11 pieces of territory. There is currently
a dispute over one area which was part of Lebowa (Bushbuck Ridge) and is
now part of the Northern Province. Residents want to be incorporated into
Mpumalanga despite a Constitutional Court ruling against them.
Bruce Berry, 31 May 1999
The name "Lebowa" means north, and thus by implication the home of the
northern Sotho people - in contrast to Lesotho and QwaQwa which is the
home of the southern Sotho. Lebowa was granted internal self-government
on 2 October 1972.
Bruce Berry, 1 December 1998
Lebowa flag description
The design of the Lebowa flag is set out in section 2 of the Lebowa
Flag Act of 1974, which reads as follows:
"The Lebowa flag shall be a flag consisting of three horizontal stripes
blue, white and green, in the proportions one, two and one, the white stripe
charged with a semi-sun with nine rays in gold.
The width of the Lebowa flag shall be equal to two-thirds of its length".
The blue in the Lebowa flag is light blue and alludes to the infinite
sky and the need for development and progress. The green represents the
land and the sunburst symbolises the dawning of a new day for the Sotho
nation.
This flag is a simplification of an earlier proposal in which the full
coat of arms would have appeared in colour on a broad white stripe below
an orange sunburst that overlapped a blue horizontal stripe running along
the top of the flag. A green stripe of the same width would have filled
the bottom of the proposed flag. This proposed design is illustrated on
the cover of The Flag Bulletin, XIII, 6, November/December 1974.
The flag was formally taken into use on 5 July 1974.
The flag was last used on 26 April 1994 afterwhich Lebowa was re-incorporated
into South Africa on 27 April 1994 and now forms part of the Northern Province.
Bruce Berry, 1 December 1998