| Heidelberg Tavern Massacre | |
|---|---|
  Observatory, Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town (South Africa) | |
| Location | Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa |
| Date | 31 December 1993 (1993-12-31) |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Injured | 7 |
| Perpetrators | APLA |
| Assailants | Humphrey 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.
The attack on the tavern was planned by APLA leader Letlapa Mphahlele.[1][2]
Massacre
[edit]
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
[edit]- Rolande Lucielle Palm, age 22, student
- Bernadette Langford, age 22, student
- Lindy-Anne Fourie, age 23, student
- Jose Cerqueira, age 35, restaurant owner[3]
Injured:
- Michael Jacob January[5]
- Dave Deglon[5]
- Benjamin Braude[5]
- Quentin Cornelius[5]
- Justin Julian Fouche[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Terreblanche, Christelle (23 April 2006). "St James massacre mastermind to go on trial". IOL. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d Scheper-Hughes, Nancy (1994). "The Last White Christmas: The Heidelberg Pub Massacre". American Anthropologist. 96 (4): 805–817. ISSN 0002-7294.
- ^ a b "Truth Commission - Special Report -". sabctrc.saha.org.za. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "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.
- ^ "PR - 16 Jul 98 - AMNESTY GIVEN FOR HEIDELBERG TAVERN MASSACRE". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- Conflicts in 1993
- Attacks on buildings and structures in 1993
- December 1993 in South Africa
- December 1993 crimes
- Massacres in 1993
- Terrorist incidents in South Africa in the 1990s
- Terrorist incidents in Africa in 1993
- Azanian People's Liberation Army
- 1993 murders in South Africa
- Attacks on bars in South Africa
- Student massacres
- 1990s massacres in South Africa
- Observatory, Cape Town
- Crime in Cape Town
- Military history of Cape Town
- Racially motivated violence against white people in Africa
