Patrick Mphephu

Patrick Mphephu
Patrick Mphephu
1st President of Venda
	In office; 13 September 1979 – 17 April 1988
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Frank Ravele
Chief Minister of Venda
	In office; 1 February 1973 – 13 September 1979
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Chief Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority
	In office; c. August 1969 – 1 February 1973
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Chief Executive Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority
	In office; c. 1962 – c. August 1969
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Personal details
Born	Patrick Ramaano Mphephu; c. 1924; Dzanani, Transvaal, South Africa
Died	17 April 1988; Thohoyandou, Venda
Political party	National Party of Venda

His excellency King Patrick Ramaano Mphephu (c. 1924 – 17 April 1988) was the first president of the bantustan of Venda, which was granted nominal independence from South Africa on 13 September 1979.^[5]

Mphephu was born in Dzanani settlement and after graduating from high school worked for the Johannesburg City Council. A paramount chief of the Venda people, he was appointed Chairman of the Ramabulana Regional Authority in 1959, Chief Counsellor of the Venda Legislative Assembly on 1 June 1971 and Chief Minister of the two discontiguous territories on 1 February 1973 when South Africa first implemented the black homeland policy. Mphephu was reelected in elections in August 1973 and his title changed to president upon independence. As president, he was also leader of the Venda National Party, the only recognized political party in the new state. Mphephu died in office and was replaced by his finance minister, Chief Frank Ravele.