ABSTRACT
The former homeland of Venda is situated in the north-eastern comer of the Transvaal, in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). Under the apartheid regime, Venda was declared to be the home of all speakers of the Venda language and became an ‘independent’ republic in 1979. The ‘Republic’ of Venda consisted of two separate territories, between latitudes 22.15 and 25.24 south, and longitudes 29.50 and 20.31 east, completely surrounded by the RSA. Compared to the adjoining ‘white’ areas of South Africa, Venda can be described as extremely underdeveloped in terms of infrastructure, economic activity, health, welfare and education services, and general standards of living. Venda can be divided roughly into three physiographic zones - central, north and south - which between them encompass a considerable range of physical and climatic conditions. Central Venda is dominated by the Soutpansberg Range formed by a succession of volcanic and sedimentary rocks overlying the Archaic bedrock.
