ACG Architects, together with the Langa Memorial Collective, designed the memorial as part of a competition initiated by the City of Cape Town.

The memorial represents a celebration of the courage and determination of participants in the Sharpeville, Vanderbijlpark, Langa and Nyanga massacres on 21 March 1960 and was unveiled on the 50th anniversary of these events on 21 March 2010.

The Langa Memorial comprises a raised circular podium across Washington Circle, upon which rest three legs, forming a threshold. This carries a tall slender chimney-like structure, from which seven flag posts emerge. The flags represent flames that constantly flutter in the breeze. Immediately above the portal, is a drum like structure, featuring images associated with the events in Langa on 21 March 1960. The material used is in the main red satin brick, red representing fire and the brick being the material extensively used in all residential and institutional structures at the time