Patrick Mphephu

{{Short description|Venda king and president, leader of the Venda National Party, son of George Mbulaheni Mphephu}}

{{Use South African English|date=January 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Patrick Mphephu

|image =

|office1 = 1st President of Venda

|term_start1 = 13 September 1979

|term_end1 = 17 April 1988{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldstatesmen.org/South_African_homelands.html|title=South African Homelands|website=worldstatesmen.org}}

|predecessor1 = None

|successor1 = Frank Ravele{{Cite web |url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/venda-national-assembly-elects-new-state-president-mr-frank-ravele-after-death-chief-pat |title=The Venda National Assembly elects a new state president, Mr Frank Ravele, after the death of Chief Patrick Mphephu in April. | South African History Online |access-date=24 February 2017 |archive-date=24 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224222906/http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/venda-national-assembly-elects-new-state-president-mr-frank-ravele-after-death-chief-pat |url-status=dead }}

|office2 = Chief Minister of Venda

|term_start2 = 1 February 1973

|term_end2 = 13 September 1979

|predecessor2 = None

|successor2 = None

|office3 = Chief Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority

|term_start3 = {{circa}} August 1969

|term_end3 = 1 February 1973

|predecessor3 = None

|successor3 = None

|office4 = Chief Executive Councillor of the VhaVenda Territorial Authority

|term_start4 = {{circa}} 1962

|term_end4 = {{circa}} August 1969

|predecessor4 = None

|successor4 = None

|birth_name = Patrick Ramaano Mphephu

|birth_date = {{circa}} 1924

|birth_place = Dzanani, Transvaal, South Africa

|death_date = 17 April 1988{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/21/obituaries/patrick-mphephu-homeland-leader-63.html|title=Patrick Mphephu, Homeland Leader, 63|date=21 April 1988|work=The New York Times}}

|death_place = Thohoyandou, Venda

|party = National Party of Venda{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Patrick-Mphephu|title=Patrick Mphephu | president of Venda|website=Encyclopædia Britannica}}

}}

His excellency King Patrick Ramaano Mphephu ({{circa}} 1924 – 17 April 1988) was the first president of the bantustan of Venda, which was granted nominal independence from South Africa on 13 September 1979.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/place/venda|title=Venda | South African History Online|website=sahistory.org.za}}

Mphephu was born in Dzanani settlement and after graduating from high school worked for the Johannesburg City Council. A paramount chief of the Venda people, he was appointed Chairman of the Ramabulana Regional Authority in 1959, Chief Counsellor of the Venda Legislative Assembly on 1 June 1971 and Chief Minister of the two discontiguous territories on 1 February 1973 when South Africa first implemented the black homeland policy. Mphephu was reelected in elections in August 1973 and his title changed to president upon independence. As president, he was also leader of the National Party of Venda, the only recognized political party in the new state. Mphephu died in office and was replaced by his finance minister, Chief Frank Ravele.