The Sebokeng Nangalembe Night Vigil Massacre
On the night of 12 January 1991, 45 people were killed while attending an all-night vigil held in a tent at 11427, Zone 7, in Sebokeng, in the Vaal region. Weeping mourners were paying their final respects to their comrade and community leader, Mphekeleli Christopher “Chris” Nangalembe, who was a member of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and the Sebokeng (community) Crime Prevention Unit. The news of his murder shocked the Vaal, where he was popular.
Chris Nangalembe died on 5 January 1991 after he was abducted, kidnapped and brutally murdered by gangsters, who had held him captive for five days. His body was later found at a rubbish dump in the nearby township of Boipatong. He was believed to have been strangled with a piece of wire. While attending the vigil, a gang of armed men suddenly invaded the tent where mourners were gathered. A hand grenade was thrown and exploded while the assailants began shooting randomly into the crowd of mourners, leaving 39 people dead and scores injured.
A vigil was held for him at his family home, despite his assailants allegedly sending a warning to the family not to bury him in Sebokeng. A gang of armed men stormed the tent where mourners were gathered, lobbing a number of hand grenades on the property and reportedly spraying it with bullets. When the dust settled, 39 people lay dead and scores more were injured. The killings represented the worst incident of viol
