Today marks the 28th anniversary of the Bhisho Massacre. 80 000 people gathered on the Ciskei border on this day demanding an end to Joshua Gqozo's government. They were led by Chris Hani, Cyril Ramaphosa (), Steve Tshwete and Ronnie Kasrils.

As they marched toward the capital (Bhisho) Ciskei soldiers opened fire killing 28 people. This event took place 3 months shy of the Boipatong massacre. And like the Sharpeville massacre, people were shot in the back. They were running away and those soldiers murdered them.

Marchers moving from Victoria grounds eQonce towards Bhisho : Daily Dispatch archives.

A previous march to Bhisho had taken place a little over a month before this day, on 4 August. Marchers arrived at the barricaded border, negotiated with authorities and were let through to the Bhisho stadium.

It was at this march that an opening in one of the fences of the stadium was made & never repaired. The massacre on this day started when a section of the marchers entered through that gap & into the stadium. It's one of the reasons some argue today's murderes were premeditated.

The Ciskei Defense Force barricaded the Ciskei border as they knew the march was taking place. Surely they would have ensured the sealing of all access points. The CDF also argued they were shot at first when they decided to open fire.

In the aftermath Gqozo was like, where were they going if they didn't want to get shot. He refused to take responsibility for what happened.

The apartheid government called it "black on black violence". Meanwhile the homeland system is their invention.

Madiba reprimanded Ronnie Kasrils for the escalation of events (the shooting started in the section led by Kasrils) but publicly, umbutho was a united front in criticizing the CDF and apartheid govt.

I haven't come across much writing on this but I suspect among other reasons the shooting at the King Golf Club two months later on 28 November may have been APLA's retaliation...I'll try find some work on this.

We lived in Bhisho when this day happened. I think it's safe to say everyone knows someone who marched on this day back then. But the story of this day is barely told by those who experienced it. I don't like that.