On 21 March 1985, residents of the township Langa in Uitenhage were travelling to attend a funeral in nearby KwaNobuhle township where political unrest had led to the death of several people. Police fired on them as they approached a white residential, area killing more than twenty people. The incident led to an international outcry and an upsurge in unrest across the country. In response, the Government appointed the Kannameyer Commission to investigate the actions of the riot police in the shootings.