Bophuthatswana Police Sergeant Rank Badges (3). South Africa Homeland.

Prior to 1995, South Africa was divided into four provinces: Cape Province (Kaap Provinsie), Natal, Transvaal and Orange Free State (Oranje Vrystaat) and the so-called TBVC States, Self-Governing Territories and Development Regions (old South Africa).
The TBVC States had independent status but were not widely recognized by the international community.
The TBVC States and Self-Governing Territories were also referred to as Homelands or Bantustans.
These so-called Homelands were the following:
1. TBVC States: Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei. (TBVC = Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda & Ciskei).
2. Self-Governing Territories: Gazankulu, Kangwane, Kwandebele, Kwazulu, Lebowa and Qwaqwa.
Every Homeland had its own policing agency, bringing the total number of policing agencies in the country to eleven (ten homelands and the old South African Police).
All eleven policing agencies had different uniforms, rank structures and conditions of service and were established under different legislation.
With the adoption of the interim Constitution in 1994, the Homelands and old development regions were abolished and integrated into a united South Africa with nine provinces.
All eleven police agencies were amalgamated to form the new South African Police Services.

Bophuthatswana (formerly known as Tswanaland) received ‘self-governing’ in 1972 and ‘constitutional independence’ in 1977.
It was the only homeland for Tswana-speaking people.
The badge of the Bophuthatswana Police Department comprised a yellow nine-pointed star charged in the centre on a white field with the coat of arms of Bophuthatswana in full colour within a red annulet bearing the words BOPHUTHATSWANA POLICE in white letters.