On 30 December 1987, Major General Bantu Holomisa, commander of the Transkei Defence Force (TDF), a staunch African National Congress (ANC) activist, led a bloodless coup against the Transkei government. Holomisa, who would become Deputy Minister of Housing in President Nelson Mandela's cabinet, suspended the civilian constitution and refused South Africa's repeated demands for a return to civilian rule. He insisting that a civilian government would be a puppet controlled by Pretoria. At the time of the coup Transkei was under the leadership of Stella Sigcau who would also be a Cabinet Minister in Mandela’s government. The Transkei was then ruled by a Military Council, with General Holomisa as Chairperson. Holomisa and his accomplices later applied for amnesty to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for what they did in 1987.
30 December 1987
Bantu Holomisa deposes Stella Sigcau as President of the Transkei
- Updated
- 20 Dec 2019
How we know this
- 01Country-data.com (2011). South Africa-Homeland Militaries [online]. Available at www.country-data.com [Accessed 14 November 2011]
- 02Republic of South Africa (2011). ‘Profile Information-Stella Sigcau, Ms.’from Government Communications [online]. Available at www.gcis.gov.za [Accessed 14 November 2011]
- 03Boddy-Evans, A. (2011). ‘This Day in History: 30 December’from About.com: African History [online]. Available at www.africanhistory.about.com [Accessed 14 November 2011]
Last updated · 20 Dec 2019
South African History Online. (2011, December 13). Bantu Holomisa deposes Stella Sigcau as President of the Transkei. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071096
South African History Online (2011) 'Bantu Holomisa deposes Stella Sigcau as President of the Transkei', South African History Online, 13 December. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071096 (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
South African History Online, Bantu Holomisa deposes Stella Sigcau as President of the Transkei [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071096, (accessed 7 October 2026).
"Bantu Holomisa deposes Stella Sigcau as President of the Transkei." South African History Online, 13 Dec. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071096. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "Bantu Holomisa deposes Stella Sigcau as President of the Transkei." South African History Online. December 13, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071096.
Also on 30 December
- 1831The first edition of the Graham’s Town Journal, mouthpiece of the Eastern Frontier settlers, is published
- 1875Adam Kok III is killed in an accident
- 1932Daisy de Melker is hung for poisoning her two husbands and her son.
- 1935Omar Bongo, former president of Gabon is born
- 1969The International Monetary Fund buys gold from SA
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