Boipatong's expansion took place in tandem with the growth of Afrikaner Nationalism and the South African discrimination policy called apartheid.

Boipatong, along with other surrounding townships, served as a pool of cheap labour for steel industry giant ISCOR.

Although small, Boipatong was one of the places where the anger of the black people was felt during the marches of the 1960s against the requirement that they carry passes.

The private sector contributed a larger portion of the amount R40 million, including a consortium responsible for the construction of Gautrain.

The memorial center construction created a number of jobs and provided skills training to members of the community.