The logjam was only broken after the Sharpeville massacre, as the UN decided to deal with the problem of apartheid South Africa. Sixty-nine protesters died, and the massacre became an iconic moment in the struggle against apartheid. In response, a police officer shouted in Afrikaans skiet or nskiet (exactly which is not clear), which translates either as shot or shoot. The Sharpeville Massacre awakened the international community to the horrors of apartheid. Riding into the small group of protestors, they forced most to withdraw, but a few stood fast around a utility pole where horsemen began to beat them. At the annual conference of the African National Congress (ANC) held in Durban on 16 December 1959, the President General of the ANC, Chief Albert Luthuli, announced that 1960 was going to be the "Year of the Pass." However, Foreign Consulates were flooded with requests for emigration, and fearful White South Africans armed themselves. Baileys African History. According to an account from Humphrey Tyler, the assistant editor at Drum magazine: The police have claimed they were in desperate danger because the crowd was stoning them. It also came to symbolize that struggle. Pheko, M. (2000) Focus: 'Lest We Forget Sharpeville', The Sowetan, 20 March. The apartheid system forcefully suppressed any resistance, such as at Sharpeville on March 21 1960, when 69 blacks were killed, and the Soweto Riots 1976-77, when 576 people died. This set the UN on the path towards the recognition of all human rights for all and, eventually, the establishment of the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review of the human rights performance of all states. But it was not until after Sharpeville that the UN made clear that the countrys system of racial segregation would no longer be tolerated. Mandela went into hiding in 1964, he was captured, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment. But even still, southern activists worked to defend the practice of segregation. But change can also be prompted by seemingly minor events in global affairs such as the Sharpeville massacre the so-called butterfly effect. Within hours the news of the killing at Sharpeville was flashed around the world. In particular, the African work force in the Cape went on strike for a period of two weeks and mass marches were staged in Durban. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Although the protests were anticipated, no one could have predicted the consequences and the repercussions this would have for South African and world politics. Other witnesses claimed there was no order to open fire, and the police did not fire a warning shot above the crowd. Unfortunately, police forces arrived and open fired on the protesters, killing ninety-six in what became known as the Sharpeville massacre. Tear gas was again fired into the crowd but because of wind the gas had little effect on dispersing the students, some of the protesters picked up the tear gas canisters and threw them back at the Guard. apartheid: aftermath of the deadly Sharpeville demonstration, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Sharpeville-massacre, Canadian Museum for Human Rights - The Sharpeville Massacre, South African History Online - Sharpeville Massacre, Sharpeville massacre - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Sharpeville massacre - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Sharpeville massacre marked turning point in South Africa's history It is also a day to reflect on the progress that has been made in ensuring basic human rights for all South Africans, as enshrined in our Constitution. Just after 1pm, there was an altercation between the police officer in charge and the leaders of the demonstration. Along the way small groups of people joined him. Time Magazine, (1960), The Sharpeville Massacre, A short history of pass laws in South Africa [online], from, Giliomee et al. ISCOR and SASOL, the state's metal and fuel companies, were and continue to be the two key role players in the provision of employment in the Sharpeville region. Under this system there was an extended period of gruesome violence against individuals of colored skin in South Africa. To share with more than one person, separate addresses with a comma. On 21 March 1960, sixty-nine unarmed anti-pass protesters were shot dead by police and over 180 were injured. Confrontation in the township of Sharpeville, Gauteng Province. Sobukwe was only released in 1969. Sobukwe subsequently announced that: On the morning of 21 March, PAC members walked around Sharpeville waking people up and urging them to take part in the demonstration. After demonstrating against pass laws, a crowd of about 7,000 protesters went to the police station. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Pretoria, South Africa, The blood we sacrificed was worth it - Sharpeville Massacre, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Welcome to the United Nations country team website of South Africa. Improved homework resources designed to support a variety of curriculum subjects and standards. I hated what it did to people, As Israelis dedicated to peace, we oppose Trump's apartheid plan, UN human rights head in unprecedented action against Indian government, Anyone can become a climate refugee. Half a century has passed but memories of the Sharpeville massacre still run deep. This angered the officers causing them to brutally attack and tear gas the demonstrators. The Afrikaner poet Ingrid Jonker mentioned the Sharpeville Massacre in her verse. Many people need to know that indiviual have their own rights in laws and freedom . Everyone should have an equal rights and better community . [5], The official figure is that 69 people were killed, including 8 women and 10 children, and 180 injured, including 31 women and 19 children. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Just after 1pm, there was an altercation between the police officer in charge and the leaders of the demonstration. They met a police line a few blocks from the Courthouse and were forbidden from proceeding because they did not have a parade permit (Reed 26). The Sharpeville massacre sparked hundreds of mass protests by black South Africans, many of which were ruthlessly and violently crushed by the South African police and military. A state of emergency was announced in South Africa. It was adopted on 21 December 1965. How the Sharpeville massacre changed the course of human rights Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The story of March 21 1960 is told by Tom Lodge, a scholar of South African politics, in his book Sharpeville. By 9 April the death toll had risen to 83 non-White civilians and three non-White police officers. In the aftermath of the events of 21 March, mass funerals were held for the victims. According to his "Testimony about the Launch of the Campaign," Sobukwe declared: At the press conference Sobukwe emphasized that the campaign should be conducted in a spirit of absolute non-violence and that the PAC saw it as the first step in Black people's bid for total independence and freedom by 1963 (Cape Times, 1960). On 20 March Nana Mahomo and Peter Molotsi has crossed the border into Bechuanaland to mobilize support for the PAC. Corrections? The Department of Home Affairs (a government bureau) was responsible for the classification of the citizenry. p. 334- 336|Historical Papers Archive of the University of the Witwatersrand [online] Accessed at: wits.ac.za and SAHA archive [link no longer available]. Sharpeville massacre - Wikipedia Sharpeville is a township near Vereeniging, in the Gauteng province of South Africa . [2] In present-day South Africa, 21 March is celebrated as a public holiday in honour of human rights and to commemorate the Sharpeville massacre. 351 Francis Baard Street,Metro Park Building ,10th Floor Many thousands of individuals applied for the amnesty program and a couple thousand testified through the course of 2 years. Following the dismantling of apartheid, South African President Nelson Mandela chose Sharpeville as the site at which, on December 10, 1996, he signed into law the countrys new constitution. Lined up outside was a large contingent of armed police with some atop armoured cars. Courtesy BaileySeippel Gallery/BAHA Source. The PAC organised demonstration attracted between 5,000 and 7,000 protesters. On the day passes were suspended (25 March 1960) Kgosana led another march of between 2000 and 5000 people from Langa to Caledon Square. Both organisations were deemed a serious threat to the safety of the public and the vote stood at 128 to 16 in favour of the banning. The key developments were the adoption of Resolution 1235 in 1967, which allowed for the examination of complaints of gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as exemplified by the policy of apartheid, and Resolution 1503 in 1970, which allowed the UN to examine complaints of a consistent pattern of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights. The ban remained in effect until August 31, 1960. Throughout the 1950s, South African blacks intensified their resistance against the oppressive apartheid system. The commission completed this task, under the chairmanship of Eleanor Roosevelt, when it finalised the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. What event happened on March 21 1960? A dompass in those days was an Identification Document that determined who you were, your birth date, what race you are and permission from your employers to be in a specific place at a specific time. Massacre in Sharpeville - HISTORY Omissions? The adoption of the convention was quickly followed by two international covenants on economic, social and cultural rights and on civil and political rights in 1966, introduced to give effect to the rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On 24 March 1960, in protest of the . On the 21st of March 1960, black residents of Sharpeville took to the police station to protest against the use of the dompas in South Africa. But change can also be prompted by seemingly minor events in global affairs, such as the Sharpeville massacre the so-called butterfly effect. Copyright 2023 United Nations in South Africa, Caption: Selinah Mnguni, a Sharpeville massacre survivor, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Its been 60 years since the Sharpeville massacre, when 69 unarmed civilians were killed by armed South African police on March 21 1960. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. During the Eisenhower administration, Congress passed two measures that proved to be ineffective: the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and the Civil Rights Act of 1960. T he Sharpeville massacre, the name given to the murder of 69 unarmed civilians by armed South African police, took place on 21 March 1960. Mandela and was given a life sentence in prison for treason against the South African government in 1964. Even so and estimated 2000 to 3000 people gathered on the Commons. Participants were instructed to surrender their reference books (passes) and invite arrest. Many of the contemporary issues in South Africa can easily be associated with the apartheid laws which devastated the country. This set the UN on the path towards the recognition of all human rights for all, and, eventually, the establishment of the Human Rights Council, and the Universal Periodic Review of the human rights performance of all states. Sharpeville Massacre, The Origin of South Africa's Human Rights Day [online], available at: africanhistory.about.com [accessed 10 March 2009]|Thloloe, J. Amid confusion, two shots were fired into the air by somebody in the crowd. Sharpeville: A Massacre and Its Consequences | Foreign Affairs Many others were not so lucky: 69 unarmed and non-violent protesters were gunned down by theSouth Africanpolice and hundreds more were injured. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. All Rights Reserved. As well as the introduction of the Race Convention, Sharpeville also spurred other moves at the UN that changed the way it could act against countries that breached an individuals human rights. After translating an article, all tools except font up/font down will be disabled. Police witnesses claimed that stones were thrown, and in a panicked and rash reaction, the officers opened fire on the crowd. At least 180 were wounded. Reddy. By mid-day approximately 300 armed policemen faced a crowd of approximately 5000 people. This article first appeared on The Conversation, Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. The University had tried to ban the protest; they handed out 12,000 leaflets saying the event was cancelled. Reports of the incident helped focus international criticism on South Africas apartheid policy. Journalists who rushed there from other areas, after receiving word that the campaign was a runaway success confirmed "that for all their singing and shouting the crowd's mood was more festive than belligerent" (David M. Sibeko, 1976). It include with civil right that violence verses non-violence that the government could or. This detailed act separated tribes based on ethnics; consequently, further detailing segregation amongst the natives . This assisted in minimizing unity between the exploited to rally against European control as it backhandedly induced submission for survival. It was a system of segregation put in place by the National Party, which governed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. On 1 April 1960, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 134. In the following days 77 Africans, many of whom were still in hospital, were arrested for questioning . Another officer interpreted this as an order and opened fire, triggering a lethal fusillade as 168 police constables followed his example. The police also have said that the crowd was armed with 'ferocious weapons', which littered the compound after they fled. UNESCO marks 21 March as the yearly International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in memory of the massacre. Only the four Native Representatives and members of the new Progressive Party voted against the Bill. The incident resulted in the largest number of South African deaths (up to that point) in a protest against apartheid . The protesters responded by hurling stones (striking three policemen) and rushing the police barricades. [21], In 1998, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) found that the police actions constituted "gross human rights violations in that excessive force was unnecessarily used to stop a gathering of unarmed people. In 1960 it was the site of one of the earliest and most violent demonstrations against apartheid . These resolutions established two important principles: that the human rights provisions in the UN Charter created binding obligations for member states, and the UN could intervene directly in situations involving serious violations of human rights. By comparing and contrasting the American Jim Crow Laws and South African apartheid, we have evidence that both nations constitutions led to discrimination, activism, reform and reconciliation. When protesters reconvened in defiance, the police charged at them with batons, tear gas and guns. However, many people joined the procession quite willingly. Other PAC members tried to stop bus drivers from going on duty and this resulted in a lack transport for Sharpeville residents who worked in Vereeniging. In March 1960, South African police shot dead 69 black protestors, sparking worldwide outrage . Pass Laws and Sharpeville Massacre | South African History Online Steven Wheatley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. The PAC called on its supporters to leave their passes at home on the appointed date and gather at police stations around the country, making themselves available for arrest. It was one of the first and most violent demonstrations against apartheid in South Africa. The Sharpeville massacre occurred on 21 March 1960 at the police station in the township of Sharpeville in the then Transvaal Province of the then Union of South Africa (today part of Gauteng). Approximately 10,000 Africans were forcibly removed to Sharpeville. How the 1960 Sharpeville massacre sparked the birth of international Robert Sobukwe | South African History Online The Minister of Justice called for calm and the Minister of Finance encouraged immigration. The march leaders were detained, but released on the same day with threats from the commanding officer of Caledon Square, Terry Tereblanche, that once the tense political situation improved people would be forced to carry passes again in Cape Town. Many of the civilians present attended voluntarily to support the protest, but there is evidence that the PAC also used coercive means to draw the crowd there, including the cutting of telephone lines into Sharpeville, and preventing bus drivers from driving their routes. African Americans demonstrated their frustration with lack of progress on the issue through non-violent means and campaigns led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (Bourne, In a march against segregation and barriers for African-American voting rights, peaceful marchers were exposed to harsh treatment by the police, 50 being hospitalized by the terrorism inflicted on them (civilrights.org). Some were shot in the back as they fled.[1]. As a result of racial segregation, resistance from coloured people in both the United States and South Africa escalated. A policeman was accidently pushed over and the crowd began to move forward to see what was happening. For them to gather means violence. The Black Consciousness Movement sparked mass protests among Blacks and prompted other liberation movements to demonstrate against the apartheid. Philip H. Frankel, An Ordinary Atrocity: Sharpeville and its Massacre (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001); Henry F. Jackson, From the Congo to Soweto: U.S. Foreign Policy Toward Africa Since 1960 (New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1982); Meredith Martin, The History of Apartheid: The Story of the Colour War in South Africa (New York: London House & Maxwell, 1962). This, said Mr Subukwe, would cause prisons to become overcrowded, labour to dry up and the economy to grind to a halt. Max Roach's 1960 Album We Insist! In 1960 it was the site of one of the earliest and most violent demonstrations against apartheid. The Sharpeville massacre was a turning point in South African history. His protest was ignored, and the government turned a blind eye to the increasing protests from industrialists and leaders of commerce. As the protesters tried to flee the violent scene, police continued to shoot into the crowd. The OHCHR Regional Office for Southern Africa also produced a series of digital stories on the Sharpeville massacre and young peoples concerns about their human rights. (2000) Focus: 'Lest We Forget', Sunday World, 19 March. Without the Sharpeville massacre, we may not have the international human rights law system we have today. The world should remember the contingency and fragility of the international human rights law system that we so easily take for granted today. A state of emergency was declared in South Africa, more than 11,000 people were detained, and the PAC and ANC were outlawed. On that day, demonstrations against the pass laws, which restricted the rights of the majority black population in apartheid South Africa, began in the early morning in Sharpeville, a township in Transvaal. It was a sad day for black South Africa. According to the police, protesters began to stone them and, without any warning, one of the policemen on the top of an armoured car panicked and opened fire. After apartheid ended, President Nelson Mandela chose Sharpeville as the place to sign South Africas new constitution on December 10, 1996. The ANC was encouraged and campaigned for democracy in South Africa. The key developments were the adoption of Resolution 1235 in 1967, which allowed for the examination of complaints of gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as exemplified by the policy of apartheid, and Resolution 1503 in 1970, which allowed the UN to examine complaints of a consistent pattern of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights. The same safe and trusted content for explorers of all ages. A new, third level of content, designed specially to meet the advanced needs of the sophisticated scholar. The term human rights was first used in the UN Charter in 1945. Dr. Verwoerd praised the police for their actions. [12], Many White South Africans were also horrified by the massacre. What were the consequences of the Sharpeville Massacre? The incident resulted in the largest number of South African deaths (up to that point) in a protest against apartheid. The Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), a splinter group of the African National Congress (ANC) created in 1959, organized a countrywide demonstration for March 21, 1960, for the abolition of South Africas pass laws. The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre was the result of a peaceful protest regarding racist South African policies of apartheid. In 1960, states had no binding international human rights obligations with oversight mechanisms. Yet only three policemen were reported to have been hit by stones - and more than 200 Africans were shot down. The laws said that blacks could not enter white areas unless they carried documents known as pass books. 20072023 Blackpast.org. The presence of armoured vehicles and air force fighter jets overhead also pointed to unnecessary provocation, especially as the crowd was unarmed and determined to stage a non-violent protest.
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