During the early 1990s Thokoza was the middle of unrest between the supporters of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the African National Congress (ANC).

[4] The hostels were created for 2500 men but by the 1980s the popolutation residing in them had risen to as high as 13,000 split along ethnic, social and language groups.

[3]: 59  The main reason for the increase in population during this period was development of the Alrode industrial area adjacent to Thokoza that resulted in further employment opportunities.

[3]: 60  Forced removals would be the option used by local government to try to maintain control of the city, after the introduction of monthly levies to be paid by shack dwellers failed to move them on.

[3]: 61  Soon law and order fell apart, and students, trade unionists, street committees, hostel-dwellers and gangsters filled the vacuum brought about by the lack of political expression by the occupants of Thokoza.

[3]: 61–2 In 1990, the population had reached 228,000 and the initial infrastructure provided by the Alberton municipality in the 1960s had begun to fail with the lack of water and the failure of sewage systems being the most serious issues.

[4] In October 1999, the leaders of both the ANC and IFP met in Thokoza's Khumalo Road, to commemorate at a community-memorial, the 688 people who died during the violence in the early 1990s, and to symbolize a spirit of healing and reconciliation in the community.