 Map of Transkei (red) within South Africa. | |
| Date | 30 December 1987; 37 years ago (1987-12-30) |
|---|---|
| Location |  Umtata |
| Type | Military coup |
| Motive | Regime change |
| Target | TNIP–led government ofStella Sigcau |
| Organised by | Bantu Holomisa |
| Participants |  Transkei Defence Force (faction) |
| Outcome | Coup succeeds
|
The1987 Transkei coup d'état was a bloodless militarycoup inTranskei, anunrecognised state and anominally independentSouth Africanhomeland for theXhosa people, which took place on 30 December 1987. The coup was led by the then 32-year-old Major GeneralBantu Holomisa, the Chief of theTranskei Defence Force, against the government ofPrime MinisterStella Sigcau (TNIP).[1][2][3][4] Holomisa suspended the civilian constitution and refused South Africa's repeated demands for a return to civilian rule on the grounds that a civilian government would be a puppet controlled byPretoria.[5]
Acounter-coup staged in 1990 failed,[6] and Holomisa'smilitary government stayed in power until the reunification of Transkei with South Africa in 1994, after the first post-apartheidgeneral election.[7]
TheMilitary Rule Medal was instituted to commemorate the 1987 coup d'état. While the medal is known to have been instituted and awarded, no warrant has yet been traced.[8][9]
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