Bophuthatswana - Platinum in the chemical industry

Four postage stamps commemorating platinum, issued on August 15, 1979, are of particular historical interest. 4c stamp shows pouring of platinum and an African worker, 15c, 20c and 25c  stamps summarize the importance of platinum in the chemical industry, in telecommunications satellites and in jewelry. The stamps were issued by Bophuthatswana, a bantustan (homeland) in the Republic of South Africa.

At the time, Bophuthatswana consisted of seven enclaves dispersed in northwest South Africa. The homeland was set up to house Setswana-speaking peoples, with its capital, Mmabatho, situated in an area bordering Botswana. Bophuthatswana was given nominal self-rule in 1971, and became independent on December 6, 1977. A head of state was appointed by the South African government, but the new country was not recognized as independent by any government other than that of South Africa and Israel. In 1983, it had more than 1,430,000 inhabitants. Two attempted coups were suppressed by South Africa.

Thank you Dear Maria.

Agriculture in Bophuthatswana 25.10.1979

Bobhuthatswana issued these four stamps to highlight the importance of Agriculture produce in the life of that erstwhile independent state. The stamps were released on 25.10.1979. The stamps depict Cattle breeding (5c), Cotton picking (a5c), Research in agriculture (20c) and Fishing industry (25c).

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Bophuthatswana stamps of the gospel.

Easter stamps from Bophuthatswana

Bophuthatswana issued these four stamps during Easter in 1981. Each of the stamps has the writing of some psalm from the Bible.

Thank you Maria.

Sun City luxury casino and resort

Sun City is a luxury casino and resort, situated in the North West Province of South Africa. It is located between the Elands River and the Pilanesberg, about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg. The complex borders the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.

Sun City was developed by the hotel magnate Sol Kerznet as part of his Sun International group of properties. It was officially opened on 7 December 1979; at the time it was located in the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana. Sun City featured a large auditorium which seated 6,230.

As Bophuthatswana had been declared an independent state by South Africa's apartheid government (although unrecognized as such by any other country), it could provide entertainment such as gambling and topless revue shows which were banned in South Africa. These factors, as well as its relatively close location to the large metropolitan areas of Pretoria and Johannesburg, ensured that Sun City soon became a popular holiday and weekend destination. The UN imposed a cultural boycott on South Africa in condemnation of apartheid. Despite this, many famous performers chose to flout the boycott and perform at the venue, such as Frank Sinatra(1981), Paul Anka, Status Quo, Rod Stewart(July 1983), and Elton John (October 1983). British rock band Queen's series of performances at the venue in October 1984 in transgression of the boycott caused considerable controversy, prompting criticism in the British music press, a fine from the Musicians' Union and their inclusion on the United Nations' blacklisted artists. Following the criticism, Queen strongly defended their decision but donated to a school for the deaf and blind to prove their philanthropic values.

In 1985, E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt made the venue the focus of his music-industry activist group, Artists United Against Apartheid. Forty-nine top recording artists collaborated on a song called "Sun City", in which they pledged they would never perform at the resort because of their opposition to apartheid. Additionally, Simple Minds included the song as part of a live medley on their Live in the City of Light double album in 1987.

Post-apartheid Sun City has continued to flourish since Bophutatswana was re-incorporated in the new South Africa in 1994.

The resort has four hotels, namely, Sun City Hotel, Cascades Hotel, The Cabanas and the Palace of the Lost City. In addition to the four hotels, the complex includes time-share facilities called "The Sun City Vacation Club" which is a popular self-catering facility.

Sun City also has two international-standard 18-hole golf courses, the Gary Player Country Club and the Lost City Golf Course, both designed by Gary Player. The Gary Player Country Club is home to the prestigious Nedbank Golf Challenge (formerly the Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge) that is held annually and sees some of the best golfing talent from all over the world competing for the title. The Lost City Golf Course is noted for the 38 crocodiles in the water feature of the 13th hole.

The Sun City resort has hosted various concerts and events, including the Miss South Africa and Miss South Africa Teen Pageant. It also hosted Miss World pageant for five times, from 1992-1995 and 2001. These pageants take place annually in Sun City’s Super Bowl Arena and the Valley of Waves. Also held in the Valley of Waves is the Spring break summer festival which sees flocks of holiday-making students from all over the country gather for up to 5 days of fun in the sun. The resort was also the site of the Sun City Agreement. In 2001, Sun City was the site of the 2nd IIFA Awards. Held at the Superbowl Arena, it honoured both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in Bollywood, for that year.

The four stamps show the facilities available at the Sun City Resort. The 5c stamp shows the Sun City Hotel and Casino, the 10c stamp shows a golfer at the Gary Player Country Club, the 15c stamp shows the Casino and the 20c stamp shows the City Extravaganza at the night Club.

Thank you Maria for this lovely card. I’d love to visit Su City some day.

INCORPORATION OF MAFEKING INTO BOPHUTHATSWANA

The South African government handed over Mafeking to the Republic of Bophuthatswana, three years after being granted independence. The handing-over also effected the name change of this town from the British pronunciation Mafeking to a Tswana name, Mafikeng, meaning a 'place of stones'. The town became the seat of the Bophuthatswana government until the new capital, Mmabatho, was developed. Mafikeng now incorporates Mmabatho (Mother of the People), and is the current capital of the North West Province, which was created after South Africa's first democratic election.

Mafikeng, formerly (until 1980) Mafeking, town, capital of North-West province, South Africa. It was previously part of the not internationally recognized republic of Bophuthatswana, in one of that country’s separated land units. It lies close to the Botswana border, about 150 miles (240 km) west of Johannesburg. Before 1980 Mafikeng was administratively within Cape Province, South Africa.

Founded in 1885 as a British military outpost, its garrison under Colonel Robert (later Lord) Baden-Powell was besieged by Boers from Oct. 12, 1899, to May 17, 1900, during the South African War; its fate excited the liveliest sympathy in England, and jubilation in London on the news of its relief led to the coining of the word “maffick.” The restored fort is a national monument of South Africa. Until 1965, Mafikeng, whose name is derived from the Tswana word meaning “place of stones,”was the extraterritorial headquarters of the British protectorate of Bechuanaland (now Botswana). The town is a major employer for the region, and Mmabatho, the former capital of Bophuthatswana, adjoins it on the west. Surrounded by prosperous cattle country, Mafikeng is a trade centre and supports dairy industries. Its workshops make it an important stop on the Cape Town-to-Zimbabwe railway, and a spur line connects the town to Johannesburg.

The cover depicts stamps in vogue in Bophuthatswana during different periods in its history. The 20c stamp on the cover has a picture of Sclerocarya caffra, the marula, (Greek σκληρός, sklērós, "hard", and κάρυον, káryon, "nut", in reference to the stone inside the fleshy fruit) is a medium-sized dioecious tree, indigenous to the miombo woodlands of Southern Africa, the Sudano-Sahelian range of West Africa, and Madagascar. The tree is a single stemmed tree with a wide spreading crown. It is characterised by a grey mottled bark. The tree grows up to 18 m tall mostly in low altitudes and open woodlands. The fruits are used in the liqueur Amarula. The distribution of this species throughout Africa and Madagascar has followed the Bantu in their migrations, as it has been an important item in their diet since time immemorial.

Thank you Maria for this lovely first day cover.