1985 — The Mamelodi Massacre

On November 21, 1985, thousands of residents of Mamelodi township marched peacefully to present their grievances — soaring rents, soldiers in the streets, and restrictions on funerals. They came as a community carrying complaints that touched daily life at every point: what a home cost, who patrolled its roads, and even how its people were allowed to bury and mourn their dead. It was, in form and intention, a peaceful march.

Without warning, apartheid police opened fire with tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition. Thirteen people were killed, including a baby, many shot in the back as they fled. The massacre became a national symbol of apartheid's brutality under the 1985 State of Emergency.