A Venda schoolteacher, Mr Mkosi Mavhina, was found hanging from a tree 20km from his home. A post-mortem examination revealed that he died from asphyxia caused by hanging. Pupils insisted that he had died as result of a ritual murder and that the Venda administration was responsible for his death. After his burial on 23 July, the pupils started a class boycott. Two weeks later students of the University of Venda joined them.

Sources:

1. South African Institute of Race Relations. (1989).
2. Race Relations Survey 1988/89, Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations, p. 95.