10 Facts About Cedric Phatudi

Cedric Phatudi authored and co-authored a few books in Sepedi.

Cedric Phatudi is known to have translated some of Shakespeare's works into Sepedi.

Cedric Phatudi was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of the North in 1973, after which he encouraged others to use the "Dr" title wherever possible when referring to him.

Cedric Phatudi served as president of the Federation of Inspectors of Schools in South Africa from 1958 to 1969.

Cedric Phatudi became involved in the nascent Lebowa nation building exercise and had risen in prominence to the extent that when Lebowa was granted self-government on 2 October 1972, he was appointed Minister for Education before his election as Chief Minister on 8 May 1973.

Not one for wasting time settling into the role, Cedric Phatudi had been Chief Minister for one day when he informed the South African government that if Lebowa was to become self-sufficient then substantial tracts of South Africa, including a number of white towns, would need to be added to Lebowan territory.

The earlier outburst aside, Cedric Phatudi was considered the most tactful of the bantustan leaders, with a modus operandi directed more at calm negotiations with Pretoria and dissident bodies than the angry outbursts epitomised by leaders like the Transkei's Kaiser Matanzima.

However, when these failed, Cedric Phatudi was not above unleashing his police against political opponents.

Cedric Phatudi successfully negotiated that Es'kia Mphahlele, who was then a prohibited person, be allowed back into the country.

Cedric Phatudi was succeeded by Noko Nelson Ramodike from Tzaneen.