The Bantustan of Bophuthatswana was created in 1961 and declared independent in 1977. It consisted of 7 enclaves distributed across 3 of South Africa’s former provinces and served as a homeland for the Tswana people. Bophuthatswana, having large uranium deposits, was the largest and wealthiest of South Africa’s 4 TBVC states.
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Lagenaria siceraria - The calabash plant is a vine originating in Southern Africa, but is now grown throughout the tropical and subtropical world. The fruit, also known as a bottle gourd, comes in various sizes and shapes. The younger fruit is harvested as a food source. Fruit allowed to mature will develop a hardened outer shell and can easily be fashioned into reusable and sturdy containers, utensils, musical instruments or pipes for smoking tobacco. The calabash plant grows rapidly. Stems can reach out 9 meters and produce ripened fruit in 2 months.
