Understanding Transkei: A Former Homeland in South Africa

Transkei was a former homeland of the Xhosa people, located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was established as a self-governing territory within South Africa in 1963, and it existed until 1994 when it was abolished and reintegrated into the Eastern Cape province.

During apartheid, the government created several "homelands" or "Bantustans" for different ethnic groups, including the Xhosa people. These homelands were intended to be independent states, but in reality, they were heavily dependent on South Africa and had limited autonomy. Transkei was one of these homelands, and it covered an area of approximately 10,000 square kilometers.

After the end of apartheid in 1994, the Transkei homeland was abolished, and its territory was reintegrated into the Eastern Cape province. The Xhosa people, who had been forcibly removed from their land during the apartheid era, were allowed to return to their ancestral lands. Today, the area that was once part of Transkei is known as the Chris Hani District Municipality, which is one of the six district municipalities in the Eastern Cape province.