Transkei
Quick reference
General issues: Republic 1976-1994
Country name on general issues: Transkei
Currency: 1 Rand = 100 Cent 1976-1994
Population: 155 000 in 1980
Political history Transkei
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Transkei is located in southern Africa. Transkei is one of the ‘homelands’, or ‘Bantustans’, formed by the apartheid regime in South Africa in the second part of the 20th century. The concept of the homelands is a continuation of the ‘native reserves’ – territories designated for the indigenous peoples of South Africa formed, from the 19th century on, by the British and South African administrations. The concept of the homelands was that the black population of South Africa would move to and become citizens of the homelands, eventually with independence for the homelands. Thus, a complete social and political segregation between the black and white population groups in South Africa would be realized. A total of ten homelands were established, together taking up 15% of South Africa for 80% of its population. All homelands gained a form of self government, four have become de jure independent. Independence of the homelands has not been recognized internationally. Eventually, 55% of the black population were relocated to the homelands. At the end of the apartheid regime in 1994, the homelands were dissolved.
Transkei was one of the two homelands for the Xhosa, one of the Bantu peoples in South Africa – Ciskei being the other one. Transkei has been established as a homeland in 1959, gained self government in 1963 and became independent in 1976 as a republic. As such, it was the first of the homelands in each of these steps.
Postal history Transkei
1984 – Carrying water from the river. A stamp from a series of stamps issued between 1984 and 1990 on Xhosa lifestyle.
Transkei has issued stamps from 1981 until 1994. Before and after that, the stamps of South Africa were used.
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