South Africa - Transkei
Transkei was a tribal homeland in the southeastern region of Republic of South Africa from 1976 until 1994.[1] The region was set aside for Xhosa-speaking people and given nominal autonomy in 1963, and granted nominal self-rule in 1976. Chief Kaiser Daliwonga Matanzima became its first head of government, ruling it as a one-party state.
In April of 1978 Transkei broke off diplomatic ties with South Africa over a border dispute, and ordered all SADF members seconded to the Transkei Defence Force to leave. Relations were soon restored, however, as the tribal homeland was economically dependent on its larger neighbor. A largely unpublicized coup d'etat in 1987 replaced Matanzima with General Bantu Holomisa (commander of the TDF). An uneasy alliance with the African National Congress ensued thereafter, providing a safe haven within the borders of South Africa for the movement's activities.
Transkei was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, becoming part of the Eastern Cape province.
Transkei Camouflage
- There is some dispute over the pattern illustrated below, as to whether it was an early, experimental design for Transkei, or in fact a pattern created for one of the other tribal homelands. Presently, the author leans towards the latter theory. Nevertheless, it is widely accepted in the collecting community that this design was, in fact, created for Transkei, so it is therefore presented here.
- The Transkei Defense Force developed a camouflage design similar to the early design issued by Zimbabwe, but having different colors. A vertical "stripe" or "brushstroke" pattern, the Transkei design incorporates chocolate brown & dark green vertical stripes on a khaki background, with some variability depending on the manufacturer.
Notes
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- ↑ The African Homeland, or bantustan, was a territory specifically set aside for black Africans of a specific ethnic or tribal group during the apartheid era.