June 16 1976 marks the start of the 1976 youth uprising against Apartheid in South Africa. Most closely associated with the school students march in Soweto and the murder of Hector Pieterson, the revolt spread across the country and well past June 1976. Along with the revolt came the deaths, most often of those shot by police. The South African History Online website has tried to collect a list of the "casualties of 1976". I took that list, did a little cleanup (code is here) and produced a map.

That map was the start of my engagement with Lynn Abrahams of Iziko Museum. With her help an updated list of the casualties in the Western Cape was produced, which is the basis of the map below. The community at Codebridge community evenings also contributed invaluable technical guidance and encouragement.

I have to emphasise that this information on this map is incomplete and likely to be (in some details at least) inaccurate. It is a start, not an end, of an attempt to keep this part of our past in our memory. In particular, the street location of each murder is inexact, as I was working off place names, not street names.

The events behind the deaths remain, to a large extent, obscure. What protests, marches, organising happened in these times? Lynn helped source on note of clarification: towards the end of 1976 the Apartheid regime fomented violence between migrants (living in migrant worker hostels) and their surrounding communities, leading to the horrify violence of December 1976 and January 1976. An account of that violence can be found here.


Jun 76
Jul 76
Aug 76
Sep 76
Oct 76
Nov 76
Dec 76
Jan 77
Feb 77
Jun 76
Feb 77

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Abduragman Allie. Age: 24
07/09/1976
Ravensmead
Shot in chest
Abel Daniso Gcwabe. Age: Unknown
01/11/1976
Gugulethu
Shot to death
Abida Harris. Age: 12
10/09/1976
George
Shot to death
Abrahim Paulse. Age: 25
09/09/1976
Sherwood Park
Shot in back at Sherwood Bottle Store
Alec van Zyl. Age: 23
08/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in back at Poplankers Bazaar
Alfred Andrew Finch. Age: 15
09/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in left side of chest from front
Alfred James Marney. Age: 18
16/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in the back at Buy Cheap Winkel
Andries Kamesi. Age: 25
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in head from front at Bottle Store No. 3
Angeline Kleinschmidt. Age: 31
08/09/1976
Elsies River
Shot in back of head at Majiet Stores
Apton Gidliza Dunga. Age: 20
01/12/1976
Gugulethu
Gunshot wound in head
Archibald Majambela. Age: 23
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in chest from front at Bottle Store No. 3
Basil William Nixkey. Age: 35
09/09/1976
Manenberg
Shot in back at Green Dolphin Bottle Store
Batwa Sogibag (Sodyiba). Age: 11
12/10/1976
Philippi

Bazil David Albern. Age: 16
09/09/1976
Elsies River
Shot in side of abdomen at Majiet Stores
Benjamin Desmond Rhula. Age: 34
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in chest from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Bhanudey Dajee. Age: 37
08/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in lungs and heart
Brain Komani. Age: 25
26/12/1976
Nyanga
Gunshot wound in head
Cajula Mkafulo. Age: 36
11/08/1976
Langa
Gunshot wound in chest
Caroline Spasina Hoogaardt. Age: 16
09/09/1976
Paarl

Charles Mervin Elliot. Age: 16
09/09/1976
Manenberg
Shot in abdomen from front at Cash & Wear Manenberg Avenue
Christiaan Benjamin Kamfer. Age: 16
07/09/1976
Ravensmead
Shot in chest
Christie Swart. Age: 17
08/09/1976
Ravensmead

Christopher Olivier. Age: 49
11/09/1976
Kuilsrivier
Shot in the chest
Christopher Appolis. Age: 16
10/09/1976
Manenberg
Cape Town Shot in head from front at Green Dolphin Bottle Store
Christopher Gobile. Age: 26
21/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in abdomen from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Christopher Truter. Age: 15
31/08/1976
Bonteheuwel
Shot through side of head
Clive Isaacs. Age: 28
09/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in head from behind at Pep Stores
Cornelius Lucas. Age: Unknown
Died prior to 15/09/1976
Mossel Bay

Cyril Ivan Limba. Age: 18
09/09/1976
Manenberg
Shot in back and small of back at Vistula Tavern Bottle Store
Dambile Sidwell Mdayi. Age: 24
11/08/1976
Langa
Gunshot wound in the chest
Daniel Mrwebi. Age: 23
12/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in stomach from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Dawood Essop. Age: 30
25/08/1976
Bonteheuwel
Shot in back
Dennis Bantu Dlanza. Age: 23
27/12/1976
Langa
Gunshot wound in chest
Douglas Majamba. Age: 20
12/08/1976
Philippi
Shot in chest from front
Edward Fish. Age: 25
07/09/1976
Ravensmead
Shot in right side of chest and abdomen
Ellen Makaluza. Age: 26
26/12/1976
Gugulethu
Axed to death
Errol Johnson. Age: 26
05/02/1977
Manenberg
Gunshot wound in abdomen
Ezekiel Xolile Mosie. Age: 18
11/08/1976
Langa
Shot in head from front in front of Langa police station
Faried Cook. Age: 16
09/09/1976
Manenberg
Shot in neck from behind at Green Dolphin Bottle Store
Fetras Genu. Age: 18
12/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in chest from front
Gary Sandy Barnardo. Age: 19
16/06/1976
Grassy Park
Shot through buttock and chest from front
Gasant Carolissen. Age: 21
02/09/1976
Hanover Park
Shot in chest
George Williams. Age: 15
09/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in left shoulder from behind
Gladwell Maneli. Age: Unknown
02/01/1977
Gugulethu
Beaten to death
Glynn Petersen. Age: 20
13/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in chest from front
Godfrey Phetelo Zuba. Age: 23
13/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in stomach from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Golden Bakubaku. Age: 26
26/12/1976
Nyanga
Killed by migrant workers
Government Jelemsi. Age: 27
27/12/1976
Nyanga

Grayton Sidondi. Age: 36
12/08/1976
Langa
Shot in back from behind at Mncede Store, Winkelsentrum
Harrison Oliphant. Age: 16
25/10/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in back
Harry Kwisomba. Age: 30
26/12/1976
Gugulethu
Shot to death
Henry A.J.D Ferguson. Age: 30
02/09/1976
Hanover Park
Shot through lungs from behind at Winkelsentrum
Henry Kwisamba. Age: Unknown
27/12/1976
Nyanga
Migrant clashes – 24 people killed
Isaac Barnes. Age: 16
25/08/1976
Bonteheuwel
Shot in chest from front at Junction Stores
Isaac Bezuidenhout. Age: Unknown
Buried on 14/9/1976
Mossel Bay

Ivy Fisher. Age: 32
12/08/1976
Langa
Shot in right side of head at Bottle Store No. 2
Jackson Gishi. Age: Unknown
26/12/1976
Nyanga
Migrant clashes – 24 people killed
James Mphutumi Mbali. Age: 15
01/12/1976
Gugulethu
Gunshot wound in chest
Jeffrey Andrew Vermeulen. Age: 19
16/09/1976
Bonteheuwel
Shot in chest from front
Joe Pakamile Magasana. Age: 39
07/01/1977
Nyanga East
Gunshot wound in neck
John Daniels. Age: 35
08/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in left side of chest at the Lookout Shop
John Davids. Age: 16
09/09/1976
Manenberg
Shot in head from behind at Mustapha General Dealers
John Jacobs. Age: 15
09/09/1976
Manenberg
Shot in arm and chest from left at Green Dolphin Bottle Store
John Opperman. Age: 20
09/09/1976
Hanover Park
Shot in stomach from front
Joseph Kumalo. Age: 22
03/09/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in abdomen from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Joseph Nxabi. Age: 25
12/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in chest from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Jurie Muller. Age: 16
09/09/1976
Elsies River
Shot in side of head and upper body at Majiet Stores
Karel Meyer. Age: 45
09/09/1976
Sherwood Park
Shot in right buttock from behind at Sherwood Bottle Store
Lawrence Buba. Age: 14
09/09/1976
Philippi
Shot in chest from front
Lawrence Jonas. Age: 26
26/12/1976
Nyanga

Luke Mazwembe. Age: 32
02/09/1976
Caledon Square
“suicide by hanging” Arrested 02/09/1976 at 06h00. Found hanging from ceiling by a noose made of strips of blanket tied together with pieces of twine at 07.40. The State pathologist, ruled that Mazwembe had several wounds to his body, including neck abrasions, swelling and bruising of his right cheekbone, slight swelling of the lower scrotum, several abrasions over both shoulder blades and on the left ankle.
M. B. A Mzwamadoda. Age: 25
11/08/1976
Langa
Shot in right shoulder from behind at Winkelsentrum
Mava Gaya. Age: 20
27/12/1976
Nyanga
Gunshot wound in head
Maxwell Sitshongaye. Age: 34
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Gunshot wound in head from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Mazwi Mncedidi. Age: 16
09/09/1976
Gugulethu

Mervyn Jacobs. Age: 16
08/09/1976
Elsies River
Shot in back at Eureka Traders
Mhlangabesi Edwin Gushamn. Age: 28
12/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in head from front at Bottle Store No. 3
Michael Bota. Age: 58
26/12/1976
Nyanga East
Gunshot wound in chest
Michael Tabalaza. Age: 28
13/12/1976
Langa

Mncedisi Xhiphu. Age: Unknown
06/09/1976
Gugulethu

Mogamat Rushaad Davids. Age: 24
16/09/1976
Athlone
Shot in back
Monica Makundayi. Age: 5
26/12/1976
Gugulethu
Shot to death
Moses Prince. Age: 22
12/09/1976
Matroosfontein

Mzimkulu Crosby Ndingane. Age: 11
14/09/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in stomach from front
Naomi van Kerke. Age: 10
07/09/1976
Ravensmead

Nazeem Khan. Age: 15
16/09/1976
Manenberg
Shot in chest and abdomen from an angle
Nelson Guwa. Age: 48
26/12/1976
Gugulethu
Axed to death
Neville James George Botha. Age: 20
09/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in stomach from front at Buy Cheap Winkel
Nicholas May. Age: 19
08/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in back at Robot Supermarket
Nicholas Sipho Ndunga. Age: 22
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in chest from front at Bottle Store No. 3
Nkululo Solomon Masiba. Age: 22
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in right shoulder from behind at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Noel John Adriaanse. Age: 13
02/09/1976
Hanover Park
Gunshot wound
Norman Ndzube. Age: 22
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Gunshot wound in chest
Nosipho Mboma. Age: Unknown
25-26/12/1976
Nyanga
Migrant clashes – 24 people killed
Nova van der Ross. Age: 22
08/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in left side of chest
Owen Leukes. Age: 17
11/09/1976
Bonteheuwel
Reported in official police list as a casualty not resulting from police action
Patrick John Daniels. Age: 24
09/09/1976
Elsies River
Shot in back of head at Majiet Stores
Petrick Nzayiya. Age: 35
11/08/1976
Langa
Shot through heart from front at Bottle Store No. 4
Phillip Moses. Age: 35
07/09/1976
Ravensmead
Shot in stomach from front
Phyllis Peters. Age: 32
16/09/1976
Athlone
Shot in side of head
Pieter Africa. Age: 24
24/11/1976
Montagu
Details of death under investigation
Radiwaan Yasin. Age: 23
07/09/1976
Cape Town
Shot in Darling Street Reported in police list as casualty not resulting from police action
Ralph Ronald Lee. Age: 34
08/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in neck at Pep Stores
Rebecca Majeke. Age: 37
11/08/1976
Langa
Shot through neck from behind at Bottle Store No. 4
Reginald Charles Matheson. Age: 18
08/09/1976
Retreat
Shot in back, neck and head from behind at Robot Supermarket
Richard Khalipha. Age: 4 months
15/01/1977
Nyanga
Died as a result of migrant workers and riot police attack
Richard Mncedisi Xipa. Age: 17
09/09/1976
Manenberg
Gunshot wound in back
Robson Mvukuse. Age: 19
17/09/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in chest from front
Rodney Edward Cooke. Age: 24
25/08/1976
Bonteheuwel
Shot in the back in front at Post Office
Ronald Carolissen. Age: Unknown
22/09/1976
Stellenbosch

Ronald Godfrey Charles October. Age: 19
16/09/1976
Heideveld
Shot in left of neck, head and chest
Ronald Harris. Age: 25
16/09/1976
Silvertown
Shot in chest from front
Sabelo Ntlabathi. Age: 30
27/12/1976
Gugulethu

Sally Jane Viljoen. Age: 51
09/09/1976
Paarl East
Shot whilst in a taxi
Samuel Louw. Age: 42
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in chest from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Sandra Joyce Adams. Age: 18
16/09/1976
Kewtown
Shot in front of head (ricochet), 3rd floor balcony
Sandra Pieters. Age: 12
03/09/1976
Athlone
Shot in right side of head at Klipfontein Rd, Roykers Supply Store
Shaheed Jacobs. Age: 15
03/09/1976
Cape Town
Shot through side of neck and chest
Sidwell Tandinkosi Donti. Age: 19
16/09/1976
Gugulethu
Gunshot wounds in head, chest and abdomen
Sifanelo Kenneth Nduna. Age: 38
11/08/1976
Langa
Shot in small of back and loin from behind at Bottle Store No. 3
Sitembiso Richard Bam. Age: 15
Unknown
Gugulethu
Gunshot wound in neck
Sithembiso Michael Tabalanka. Age: 29
07/01/1977
Gugulethu
Gunshot wound
Sonnyboy Zantsi. Age: 17
16/09/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in front of head
Stanley Mlamli Hlakula. Age: 26
27/12/1976
Nyanga
Gunshot wound in back
Suleman Gasnola. Age: 17
09/09/1976
Lansdowne
Shot in chest from side
Sydney Barnes. Age: 32
26/08/1976
Gugulethu
Beaten to death
Sydney Gongxeka. Age: 18
28/12/1976
Gugulethu
Shot to death
Talford Ntleko. Age: 17
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shotgun wound in back shot from behind at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Tamsanqa Michael Tshayi. Age: 19
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Gunshot wound in head
Thobi Jaho. Age: 19
17/12/1976
Nyanga
Gunshot wound in back
Tolika Mafumana. Age: Unknown
15-16/09/1976
Nyanga
Killed during stayaway
Tutu John Lesele. Age: 45
11/08/1976
Langa
Shot in calf, buttock and chest from behind at Bottle Store No. 3
Unknown person. Age: Unknown
10/09/1976
Oudtshoorn

Victor August. Age: 31
31/12/1976
Gugulethu
Reported missing during December disturbances
Victor Mzwandile Nokasa. Age: 18
16/09/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in front of head
Victor Woukaza. Age: 18
Unknown
Gugulethu

Virginia Nodada. Age: 17
12/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in stomach from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Vukile Abraham Mteto. Age: 26
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in chest from front at Bottle Store No. 3
Vuyisile Wellington Zondani. Age: 28
09/09/1976
Manenberg
Shot through chest from left at Vistula Tavern Bottle Store
Vuyo Howard Ntlantsana. Age: 26
26/12/1976
Nyanga
Gunshot wound in back
Welili Reginald Mshudulu. Age: 23
12/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in head from front at Bottle Store No. 3, Bantu Administration
Willem Botha. Age: 50
26/12/1976
Nyanga
Gunshot wound in lower body
Wiseman Lutiya. Age: 22
11/08/1976
Gugulethu
Shot in abdominal cavity from front at Bottle Store No. 1 and 2
Yvonne Dube. Age: 45
09/09/1976
Paarl East
Inquest revealed that she died after seven pellets from a shotgun had been fired
Zacharia Nkangana. Age: 18
26/12/1976
Nyanga
Shot to death
Zizwe Zizwe. Age: 18
08/09/1976
Gugulethu
Found dead in mortuary
Zwelethu Sydney Gongxeka. Age: 18
27/12/1976
Langa


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