King Williams Town schools are closed in commemoration of Victoria Mxenge

Date: 1 Aug 1986
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

King Williams Town schools are closed in commemoration of Victoria Mxenge

On 1 August 1986, students of Lamonville high school, as well as students from other schools refused to attend classes near King Williams Town. The students of Clermont and Chesterville flouted school rules by leaving school premises without authorization in dedication to the civil rights lawyer, Victoria Nonyamezelo Mxenge, who died on that day the previous year. Victoria Mxenge was shot dead by four men in her driveway in Durban. At that time she was one of fifteen United Democratic Movement team members facing trial for treason. She was buried in Rayi Cemetery.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01Saldru clippings collection, ‘Pupils mourn Mxenge murder, Black Politics 1986e
02South African History Online, Victoria Nonyamezelo Mxenge biography,Url number https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/victoria-nonyamezelo-mxenge, available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 31 August 2017]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2017, July 31). King Williams Town schools are closed in commemoration of Victoria Mxenge. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123838

South African History Online (2017) 'King Williams Town schools are closed in commemoration of Victoria Mxenge', South African History Online, 31 July. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123838 (Accessed: 28 July 2026).

South African History Online, King Williams Town schools are closed in commemoration of Victoria Mxenge [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123838, (accessed 28 July 2026).

"King Williams Town schools are closed in commemoration of Victoria Mxenge." South African History Online, 31 July 2017, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123838. Accessed 28 July 2026.

South African History Online. "King Williams Town schools are closed in commemoration of Victoria Mxenge." South African History Online. July 31, 2017. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123838.