Fifty years after the 'independence' of Transkei, South Africa is not done with the legacy of the bantustans

Nelson Mandela rejected an early release offer in 1974, preferring to return to Johannesburg rather than be confined to the Transkei, his birthplace. The Transkei, designated for Xhosa people, became the first bantustan to gain independence in 1976, forcibly associating 1.3 to 1.5 million individuals. Today, it remains one of South Africa's poorest regions, suffering from corruption and mismanagement that originated during apartheid. Historian Timothy Gibbs notes that the dysfunctions of the bantustans have persisted in local governance, impacting the area ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.