South Africa: Stopping a Coup in Bop

Since raising its flag in 1977, Bophuthatswana (pop. 1.7 million) has always been considered the most viable of the four "independent" black homelands | set up by South Africa. Bop, as the homeland is sensibly known, derives substantial revenues from platinum mining and the gambling resort of Sun City. But Bop -- and Pretoria's oft-denounced homeland policy in general -- suffered an embarrassing setback last week, when a coup briefly toppled the government.

The drama began as rebellious soldiers seized President Lucas Mangope, 60, from his bed and took him, still in his shorty pajamas, to a soccer stadium. Claiming the government was corrupt, the kidnapers threatened to douse Mangope with gasoline and set him ablaze. Within 14 hours, several hundred South African troops rescued Mangope and restored him to office.