The incorporation of Botshabelo into the former Qwaqwa homeland: A logical consequence of the apartheid system?

Abstract

South Africa becoming a democratic country in 1994 saved Botshabelo, a town-ship 55 kilometers from Bloemfontein, from incorporation into the former home-land of Qwaqwa. Qwaqwa was formely the Witsieshoek reserve in the eastern part of the Free State Province. Two tribal authorities were established in the area while it was still a reserve in 1953, but later these tribal authorities became known as regional authorities in 1962. A territorial authority established in 1969 was replaced by a legislative assembly in 1971. In line with the South African government's homeland policy, Qwaqwa was proclaimed a self-governing territory for Africans of South Sotho origin on 25 October 1974. In the same year, a process began that was to bring upheaval in Qwaqwa as the first Basotho were relocated to the area from other locations of the then Orange Free State Province. In Qwaqwa, for example, before 1974, the Batlokoa tribe under the leadership of Chief Wessels Mota administered the area. After 1975 political and administrative power was taken by Dr TK Mopeli and his Dikwankwetla Party and the area from then became a contested political terrain as it became a homeland.