Heidelberg Tavern massacre

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Heidelberg Tavern Massacre
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Observatory, Cape Town
Observatory, Cape Town (South Africa)
Location Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
Date31 December 1993;31 years ago (1993-12-31)
Deaths4
Injured7
Perpetrators APLA
AssailantsHumphrey Luyanda Gqomfa, Vuyisile Brian Madasi and Zola Prince Mabala

The Heidelberg Tavern massacre occurred in Observatory, Cape Town on New Year's Eve (31 December) 1993. Three Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) operatives entered the Heidelberg Tavern and opened fire on the crowd, killing three students and the owner of an adjacent restaurant who went outside to investigate the sounds of gunfire. An unexploded bomb (with nails strapped to it) was found in the restaurant, close to the main entrance.

Contents

The attack on the tavern was planned by APLA leader Letlapa Mphahlele. [1] [2]

Massacre

Heidelberg Tavern massacre
Notable massacres committed during Operation Great Storm by the Azanian People's Liberation Army between 1990 and 1994.
The current site of the Heidelberg Tavern massacre. Now occupied by other businesses. Heidelberg Tavern site 2018.jpg
The current site of the Heidelberg Tavern massacre. Now occupied by other businesses.

During the years of apartheid, Observatory was one of the few de facto "grey" suburbs where all races lived together. On the evening of 31 December 1993, three men entered a popular student venue on Station Road, called the Heidelberg Tavern and opened fire, [3] killing four people and injuring seven. [4] Although APLA attacked the tavern to target white South Africans, as part of its Operation Great Storm, [5] half of the victims killed were not white. [3]

The three APLA operatives – Humphrey Luyanda Gqomfa, Vuyisile Brian Madasi, and Zola Prince Mabala – were convicted in November 1994 [1] for what became known as the Heidelberg Massacre. On 16 July 1998, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission granted the three amnesty. [6]

Victims

Killed: [3] [5]

Injured:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Fourie, Ginn (15 December 2009). "Heidelberg massacre: Story of reconciliation". South African History Online. ObsLife. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  2. Terreblanche, Christelle (23 April 2006). "St James massacre mastermind to go on trial". IOL. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Scheper-Hughes, Nancy (1994). "The Last White Christmas: The Heidelberg Pub Massacre". American Anthropologist. 96 (4): 805–817. ISSN   0002-7294.
  4. 1 2 "Truth Commission - Special Report -". sabctrc.saha.org.za. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Truth Commission - Special Report - TRC Final Report - Volume 2, Section 1, Chapter". sabctrc.saha.org.za. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  6. "PR - 16 Jul 98 - AMNESTY GIVEN FOR HEIDELBERG TAVERN MASSACRE".