Venda, located in the northern part of South Africa, was one of several homelands created during apartheid to segregate black South Africans and promote the idea of separate development. On this occasion, the South African government officially declared Venda an independent homeland in a move to further entrench the apartheid system by granting limited self-governance to a designated area for the Venda people. Chief Patrick Mphephu, who had been designated by the apartheid government, assumed leadership of this newly formed territory. Although this gesture was presented as an advancement for the Venda people, the reality was that it served the interests of the apartheid regime by consolidating control over the black populace and diverting international criticism by creating the semblance of self-determination. The lack of international recognition highlighted the farcical nature of this independence, with most nations viewing it as a ploy to legitimize apartheid policies and diminisher South African sovereignty. The homeland operated with limited economic resources and political power, effectively making it a Bantustan with restricted freedom.