The Bantustans in the 1970's

• In the 1970's the South African Government declared Bantustans "independent". The remaining Bantustans remained self-governing, but were not yet independent.
• Bantustans were only kept afloat by massive subsidies from the South African government. By 1985, 85% of Transkei's income came from direct transfer payments from the government.
• The Bantustans' governments were often corrupt and little wealth trickled down to the local populations.
• Millions of people had to work in appalling conditions, away from their homes for months at a time. 65% of Bophuhatswana's population worked outside the "homelands".
• Many individuals assigned to homelands did not live in or originate from h homelands to which hey were sent.
• Bantustan leaders were often perceived as collaborators with the Apartheid system, although some were successful in acquiring popular support from their people.