A combined force of seven thousand South African Defence Force (SADF) troops and the South African Police (SAP) sealed off the Vaal Triangle townships of Sebokeng, Sharpeville and Boipatong. They carried out house-to-house searches, arresting 358 people, some of who were immediately charged in special courts. The purpose was to eliminate criminal elements and intimidating forces from the townships.
eventREF E-0012567Revised
23 October 1984
SADF seals off Vaal townships
- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019
How we know this
- 01Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E.eds1999.Southern African Political History: a chronology of key political events from independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). SADF seals off Vaal townships. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012567
South African History Online (2011) 'SADF seals off Vaal townships', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012567 (Accessed: 7 November 2026).
South African History Online, SADF seals off Vaal townships [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012567, (accessed 7 November 2026).
"SADF seals off Vaal townships." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012567. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.
South African History Online. "SADF seals off Vaal townships." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012567.
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