Dr Cedric Namedi Phatudi (27 May 1912 – 7 October 1987) was the Chief Minister of Lebowa, one of the South African bantustans.

[1] Not one for wasting time settling into the role, 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, 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.

[citation needed] Phatudi also successfully negotiated that Es'kia Mphahlele, who was then a prohibited person, be allowed back into the country.

[4] Economic problems continued to plague Lebowa and Phatudi struggled to maintain control over the increasingly disgruntled homeland population throughout his rule.