Patrick Mphephu

Patrick Mphephu
1st President of Venda
In office 13 September 1979 – 17 April 1988[1]
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Frank Ravele[2]
Chief Minister of Venda
In office 1 February 1973 – 13 September 1979
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Chief Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority
In office c. August 1969 – 1 February 1973
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Chief Executive Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority
In office c. 1962 – c. August 1969
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Personal details
Born	Patrick Ramaano Mphephu c. 1924 Dzanani, Transvaal, South Africa
Died	17 April 1988[3] Thohoyandou, Venda
Political party	National Party of Venda[4]
Parent	George Mbulaheni Mphephu (father)

Patrick Ramaano Mphephu (c. 1924 – 17 April 1988) was the first president of the bantustan of Venda, which was granted nominal independence from South Africa on 13 September 1979.^[5]

Mphephu was born in Dzanani settlement and after graduating from high school worked for the Johannesburg City Council. A paramount chief of the Venda people, he was appointed Chairman of the Ramabulana Regional Authority in 1959, Chief Counsellor of the Venda Legislative Assembly on 1 June 1971 and Chief Minister of the two discontiguous territories on 1 February 1973 when South Africa first implemented the black homeland (bantustan) policy. Mphephu was re-elected in elections in August 1973 and his title changed to president upon independence. As president, he was also leader of the National Party of Venda, the only recognized political party in the new state. He and his party were supporters of a free market economy.^[6] Mphephu died in office and was replaced by his finance minister, Chief Frank Ravele.

References

1. "South African Homelands". worldstatesmen.org.
2. "The Venda National Assembly elects a new state president, Mr Frank Ravele, after the death of Chief Patrick Mphephu in April. | South African History Online". Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
3. "Patrick Mphephu, Homeland Leader, 63". The New York Times. 21 April 1988. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025.
4. "Patrick Mphephu | president of Venda". Encyclopædia Britannica.
5. "Venda". South African History Online.
6. "Venda government" (PDF). www.nationalarchives.gov.za.

Political offices
New title	President of Venda 1979–1988	Succeeded by Frank Ravele