“Through powerful research and animation, VUT’s seminar honours Boipatong Massacre survivors and promotes healing, justice, and institutional transformation.”
29 July 2025 | Story By: Vince Thwala | Picture: Peter Masela
2 minutes read time.
On 25 July, the Department of Social Justice and Transformation at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) hosted a research outcomes seminar under the theme “Out of sight, out of mind”, commemorating the tragic events of the Boipatong Massacre. The session served as a platform to share the outcomes of a deeply reflective research project led by Mr Mashaole Makwela, a visual arts lecturer at VUT, underscoring the importance of revisiting the past to support social healing and institutional transformation.
Speaking at the seminar, Mr George Mvalo, Director of the Department of Social Justice and Transformation, emphasised its significance: “At the university, I am responsible for driving institutional transformation in social justice. If everything fails, I take full responsibility. When we conceptualised this seminar series, we did so with a firm belief in facts and lived experiences. We aim to encourage our staff and students to pursue postgraduate studies, conduct impactful research, and contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s transformation journey. Mr Makwela ‘grabbed the bull by its horns’ by taking on and completing such an important study.”
Mr Makwela’s research examines the political conflict that culminated in the Boipatong Massacre, particularly focusing on tensions between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
“The conflict intensified after 1979 when Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, founder of the IFP, disagreed with the ANC’s approach to dismantling the apartheid regime. The ideological divide between peaceful and militant resistance eventually led to violent clashes between the two groups, particularly in the early 1990s,” said Makwela.
He interviewed survivors and community members from Boipatong to explore the lingering trauma and social impact. Using an animated visual project, he documented their emotional testimonies, family dynamics, and personal narratives.
“I created an animation to reflect the political violence and its painful impact on the people of Boipatong. I listened to their emotions, reactions, and family life dynamics during and after the massacre. One theme that stood out was how extended families suffered together; many had cousins visiting or staying during the attack. The project touches on loss, trauma, commemoration, and memory ownership. Survivors shared their stories using images I created based on their words, allowing them to take control of their narratives,” he explained.
The result was a profoundly moving and successful research project that not only documented historical trauma, but also offered a platform for survivors to reclaim their voices. Through visual storytelling and academic reflection, Mr Makwela’s work stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring value of memory, truth, and justice in post-apartheid South Africa.