THE former Bophuthatswana homeland leader Lucas Mangope has died.
Mangope died at the age of 94.
It is not clear what the cause of his death is at this stage.
The former Bophuthatswana leader came into power in 1966, in the apartheid rule of former Prime Minister B J Vorster.
He was accused of using police brutality to control protests in the Bophuthatswana Bantustan.
Mangope was ousted in 1994 after he refused to allow free campaigning in Bophuthatswana.
In December 1991, during the Codesa talks, Mangope tried to present Bophuthatswana as a semi-independent country.
In 1993, ahead of the first democratic elections, he insisted Bophuthatswana would remain independent of the new and integrated South Africa.
He formed the United Christian Democratic Party (UCDP), after he was ousted as the leader of the Bantustan.
I hear Mangope, I hear Radio BOP. I hear BOP TV.
— Mathanda (@MathandaNcube) January 18, 2018
RIP Ntate .
R.I.P Mr Lucas Manyane Mangope ,
— KE SHARP (@danielmarven) January 19, 2018
Bophuthatswana pic.twitter.com/L3FgX1JH0A
#LucasMangope For someone who grew up In bophutatswana..I have seen the development that Mangope brought to his people that ANC will never achieve.Mmabana,Unit houses,Your parliament in Montshiwa..your legacy destroyed by the ANC because of Popo Molefe...
— Mr Van Peeblez (@VanPeeblez) January 19, 2018
You a Legend Morolong
Though his developmental initiatives cannot be ignored, Lucas Mangope was a ruthless apartheid stooge on those who opposed him. He literally broke our village of Mokgola apart into two. Our people lost lives during the resistance against him
— Mk (@kmos007gp) January 19, 2018
