Black National State

Area in the Republic of South Africa set aside from 1971 to 1994 for development towards self-government by black Africans, in accordance with apartheid. Before 1980 these areas were known as black homelands or bantustans. Making up less than 14% of the country, they tended to be situated in arid areas (though some had mineral wealth), often in scattered blocks. This meant that they were unsuitable for agriculture and unlikely to be profitable economic units. Those that achieved nominal independence were Transkei in 1976, Bophuthatswana in 1977, Venda in 1979, and Ciskei in 1981. They were not recognized outside South Africa because of their racial basis.

Outbreaks of violence resulted in the overthrow of the governments in Ciskei and Venda in 1990, and calls for reintegration within South Africa in all of the four independent states. Bophuthatswana was annexed by South Africa in March 1994 after a popular uprising.

The repeal of the Land Acts and Group Areas Acts in 1991 promised progressively to change the status of Black National States. Under South Africa's non-racial constitution, which came into effect in April 1994, the states became part of the republic's provincial structure, with guaranteed legislative and executive power.