Born in Motswedi on December 27 1923, Mangope worked as a high school teacher until 8 August 1959, when he succeeded his father Lucas as Chief of the Motsweda Ba hurutshe-Boo-Manyane tribe. On May 1 1971, Mangope became Chief Minister of the Bophuthatswana Legislative Assembly and retained his post following the first Bophuthatswana elections on 4 October 1972. Initially leader of the Bophuthatswana National Party, Mangope left the party following what was officially referred to as `internal strife' and formed the Bophuthatswana Democratic Party, which then became the governing party.
He became President in 1977, a position he held until Bophuthatswana's reintegration into South Africa in 1994, although he needed to be reinstated by the South African government in 1988 following a failed coup.
Born in Motswedi on December 27 1923, Mangope worked as a high school teacher until 8 August 1959, when he succeeded his father Lucas as Chief of the Motsweda Ba hurutshe-Boo-Manyane tribe.
On May 1 1971, Mangope became Chief Minister of the Bophuthatswana Legislative Assembly and retained his post following the first Bophuthatswana elections on 4 October 1972.
Mangope was found guilty of fraud in 1998 and is now leader of the South African United Christian Democratic Party.
Mangope was found not guilty on another 103 counts of theft, with Judge Mullins arguing that the State had not proven conclusively that the Bophuthatswana funds involved (although mostly not budgeted) had no legitimate purpose in enhancing Presidential security.
He characterised the Mangope regime as one which had brought advancement and prosperity to the homeland, contradicting the thrust of his July judgment in which he spoke of pervasive corruption in the homeland.
Mangope's UCDP gained substantial support from civil servants concerned about the possible loss of their privileges and benefits if the provincial administration was made more efficient and effective.
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