LUCAS MANGOPE, a life

336pp., b/w & colour illus., paperback, Cape Town, 2024

Lucas Mangope (1923 - 2018)  was appointed as the first Chief Minister of Bophuthatswana in 1972 and became president in 1977, when Bophuthatswana was declared independent by the South African government. He was briefly overthrown by members of a military police unit led by Rocky Malebane-Metsing of the People's Progressive Party, who accused Mangope of corruption and of rigging the election. Mangope was reinstated following intervention by the South African Defence Force. In 1993, during the negotiations that led to the 1994 elections, Mangope insisted that Bophuthatswana would remain independent of the new and integrated South Africa. He was eventually forced to flee, Bophuthatswana was reincorporated into South Africa and he was removed from office. In 1997 Mangope formed the United Christian Democratic Party which, at its peak, held three seats in the National Assembly. He was expelled from the party in 2012.

Journalist Oupa Segalwe served as spokesperson for the Public Protector for 13 years and currently works in public sector corporate communication. He grew up in Motswedi, the rural village where Mangope was chief, before becoming President of Bophuthatswana.