On the night of 12 January, 1991, more than 30 people were killed while attending an all-night vigil held in a tent in Sebokeng, in the Vaal region, where weeping mourners paid final respects to their comrade and community leader, Chris Nangalembe who was a member of the African National Congress (ANC).
Nangalembe died on 5 January 1991 after he was kidnapped by unknown assailants and brutally murdered. His body was later found at a rubbish dump in the nearby township of Boipatong. 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 similar event unfolded Kwa-Madala Hostel in Boipatong, Vaal on 17 June 1992, where 46 residents were massacred on what became known as Boipatong Massacre.
South African History Archive, (2010), ‘Remembering the Nangalembe Nighti Vigil Massacre’, 12 January, [online], Available at www.saha.org.za [Accessed: 10 January 2012]|Sedibeng District Municipality, (2011), The 20th Anniversary of the Sebokeng Night Vigil Massacre’, 31 January, [online], Available at www.sedibeng.gov.za [Accessed: 10 January 2012]