The Commission visited the Vaal Triangle in 1952. It was decided that the Vaal Triangle couldn’t maintain four black residential areas in a single white area. It was therefore decided to build the infrastructure for the new macro residential area south of Evaton. The Mentz Commission recommended the area between the Iscor Vanderbijlpark Iron works and Evaton, which was known as the N3 Dominion. This area was later renamed Sebokeng. The main purpose of the establishment of a new macro residential area was to remove and resettle all the black people from out of the white areas of the Vaal triangle. The first houses were built in 1965.

Since its inception, Sebokeng has been the administrative headquarters for six townships, which made up the then Lekoa municipal authority, instituted early in 1984. The Lekoa council was established in accordance with the provisions of the Black Local Authorities Act of 1982. The municipal area of Lekoa was divided into 39 wards and the council was elected in a 14,7% poll in 1983. Economic rentals, (i.e. rentals which were expected to fund the township’s administration and services) were introduced in the Vaal Triangle area in 1984 by the Lekoa Council, much against the wishes of residents. The new local authority raised tariffs for rents and services in September 1984, which prompted violent protests.

S

ebokeng

In Sebokeng in 1991, unknown killers opened fire and killed more than 47 mourners at the night vigil of the funeral of a fellow comrade, Christopher Nangalembe. This incident came to be known as the Nangalembe Night Vigil massacre. The Sebokeng community decided to build a monument in honour of the victims of the Nangalembe Night Vigil massacre. The community contributed funds and built a small tombstone inscribed with the names of 47 known victims inscribed on it. The monument was built in Zone 7 where the massacre took place. The monument of Nangalembe Night Vigil massacre was unveiled by President Mandela on 21 March 1996.