It was the site of the infamous Boipatong massacre on 17 June 1992 , when 46 township residents were massacred by local hostel-dwellers . This happened at a time when Convention for a Democratic South Africa ( CODESA ) negotiations towards the end of apartheid in South Africa were in progress . Boipatong massacre was one of the reasons that led to the suspension of the talks . The African National Congress ( ANC ) National Working Committee released a statement that they could not negotiate in condition where majority of the poor were killed in a state sponsored violence . They subsequently withdrew from the talks only to return after the then-State President FW De Klerk committed to controlling his security forces . This was the second year after the release of Nelson Mandela . This event was attended by 228 delegates from 19 political parties . On further investigation and revelation from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission ( TRC ) this massacre was confirmed to be state-sponsored . The hostel dwellers who killed the residents were Inkatha Freedom Party ( IFP ) members who later confessed in the TRC they were transported by government police cars and led by white police officers who painted their faces black . This massacre is added in the lawsuit that is taking place in the USA courts against multi-national corporations that did business with the apartheid South Africa
Boipatong massacre
Boipatong massacre
Boipatong