Sharpeville massacre, march 21, 1960, incident in the black township of. Demonstrators discarding their passbooks to protest apartheid, 1960. Then there is sharpeville, a massacre that was waiting to happen, one of those events that define the history of a people. In the black township of sharpeville, near johannesburg, south africa, afrikaner police open fire on a group of unarmed black south african. Sharpeville massacre was turning point in antiapartheid. Sharpeville hardcover tom lodge oxford university press. Sharpeville massacre simple english wikipedia, the free. We went into sharpeville the back way, behind a grey police car and three saracens. The gunfire left in its wake sixtyseven dead and one hundred and eighty six wounded. A total of 69 people were killed including 8 women and 10 children, and 180 people were injured, including 31 women and 19 children. First, the government declared a state of emergency and detained around 2,000 people. Sharpeville massacre, sharpeville, south africa, 1960 publisher oxford. May 04, 2017 seven out of ten shot in the back at sharpeville archive, 1960 4 may 1960.
The sharpeville massacre was when a crowd of between 5,0007,000 black people protested at the police station in sharpeville, south africa on march 21, 1960. During the sharpeville massacre in 1960 a number of blacks came together outside a police station to protest the pass law. Sharpeville massacre wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Sharpeville, initially built to move top location residents further away from vereeniging, was established in 1935 during the mayorship of john lille sharpe. Sharpevilles heroes, and south africas human rights new books. If ever the world needed to make up its mind about apartheid, the sharpeville massacre exposed it for what it was. Even so, at the beginning of 1960 there were only about 100 paidup pac members in sharpeville, although pac activists engaged in some energetic recruiting in the. The sharpeville protests began over south africas pass laws, which required black south africans to carry passbooks with them any time they traveled out of their designated home areas. Apartheid was firmly rooted in south africas colonial history. The book is especially compelling when it focuses on the local history and politics of sharpeville, and overall. George wallace, the origins of the new conservatism, and the transformation of american po. Causes of the sharpeville massacre 1710 words bartleby. Media in category sharpeville massacre the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. News long reads how the sharpeville massacre changed the course of human rights.
A surgeon gave evidence at a judicial inquiry following the fatal shooting of protestors by police in a south african. In sharpeville, tom lodge explains how and why the massacre occurred, looking at the social and political background to the events of march 1960, as well. Sharpeville massacre, incident in the black township of sharpeville, near vereeniging, south africa, on march 21 1960, in which police fired on a crowd of black people, killing or wounding some 250 of them. At some stage all hell will break loose half a century after massacre that shifted course of south african history, township is still bristling with anger audio. On monday 21st march 1960, two days after the pan africanist congress pac a spinoff group of the african national congress anc announced that it would commence its own nationwide anti pass campaign in their johannesburg conference, members of the pac intentionally left their reference books passes at home, so that the south african police.
On this day, in 1960 a large group of people converged on the police square in sharpeville, gauteng, to protest the law that black people had to carry passbooks. On march 21, 1960, a line of white policemen outside the sharpevilles police station fired 44 rounds into the crowd gathered in the public square. Time magazine, 1960, the sharpeville massacre, time magazine online, 4 aprilapartheid legislation in south africa online, available at. Its been 60 years since dozens of protesters were killed at a peaceful antiapartheid rally in south africa. Although racial segregation had long been in practice there, the apartheid name was first used about 1948 to describe the racial segregation policies embraced by the white minority government.
May 03, 2020 on 21 march 1960 police opened fire on members of the pan africanist congress pac protesting peacefully in the south african township of sharpeville against apartheids iniquitous pass laws. Sharpeville massacre, 21 march 1960 south african history. Mar 21, 2012 on march 21, 1960, south african police officers opened fire on a crowd of black protesters who had surrounded a police station in sharpeville, killing 69 people. The anc was outlawed, and nonviolence movements ended. Seven out of ten shot in the back at sharpeville archive, 1960. Lodges study of the sharpeville massacre is a meticulous but overstuffed history of the 1960 clash between black protestors and white policemen in the south african township of sharpeville, which left 67 protestors dead and nearly 200 wounded, most shot in the back while running away. When the marchers reached sharpevilles police station a heavy. Mar 14, 2020 sharpeville massacre, incident in the black township of sharpeville, near vereeniging, south africa, on march 21 1960, in which police fired on a crowd of black people, killing or wounding some 250 of them.
On 1 april 1960, the united nations security council passed resolution 4. On 16 march 1960, robert subukwe, leader of the pan african congress a liberation movement or pac, informed the commissioner of police that his organization would embark on. It was one of the first and most violent demonstrations against apartheid in south africa. The book is especially compelling when it focuses on the local history and. The killing of 69 black south africans on march 21st, 1960 was a turning point. With the implementation of the apartheid governments group areas act 21 of 1950, it was estimated that over 3. Eyewitnesses said men, women and children fled like rabbits as up to 300 officers began randomly shooting into a 5,000strong crowd outside the municipal offices in. The reconstruction and rewriting of histories about the sharpeville massacre which occurred on 21 march 1960, and the reconstitution of that day as a historical and a depoliticised human rights day, is but one of many examples of this unfortunate political bias and narrow approach to the telling of history. In the black township of sharpeville, near johannesburg, south africa, afrikaner police open fire on a group of unarmed black south african demonstrators, killing 69 people and wounding 180 in a hail of submachinegun fire. Magazine article history today remembering sharpeville. The demonstrators were protesting against the south african governments restriction. On 21 march 1960 several hundred black africans were injured and 69 killed when south african police opened fire. This was in direct defiance of the governments countrywide ban on public meetings and gatherings of more than ten persons. In sharpeville people were waving at jets and throwing their hats in the air, they were impressed by the low flying jets and thought it to be an air force display.
On march 21, 1960, police officers in a black township in south africa opened fire on a group of people peacefully protesting oppressive pass laws, killing 69. Sharpeville massacre, 21 march 1960 south african history online. The sharpeville massacre occurred on 21 march 1960, at the police station in the south african. After sharpeville, south africas government had become increasingly isolated, but the government refused to abandon its policies of apartheid and racial discrimination. To really find out what happened in 1960, our indepth 1960 timeline is below, and if youre interested in the way that these 1960 events were reported at the time, check out our selection of 1960 newspapers. Sharpeville massacre, march 21, 1960, incident in the black township of sharpeville, near vereeniging, south africa, in which police fired on a crowd of blacks, killing or wounding some 250 of them. The sharpeville massacre, as the event has become known, signalled the start of armed resistance in south africa, and prompted.
On march 21, 1960, a line of 150 white policemen fired 44 rounds into a crow. Tom lodges compelling account of what happened in the early 1960s and what the. In 1960 blacks formed outside a police station in sharpeville to protest the pass laws they burnt their reference books the police opened fire on the crowd 67 demonstrators were killed the anc was outlawed this ended the nonviolence movements an underground organization sprung up that engaged in terrorist attacks against symbolic targets. Click download or read online button to get sharpeville book now. On march 21, 1960, police officers in a black township in south africa opened fire on a. Sharpeville marked a turning point in south africas history. Sharpeville, a black suburb outside of vereeniging about fifty miles south of johannesburg. The anniversary of the sharpeville massacre is remembered the world over every march 21 on the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination. On march 21, 1960, at a police station in the south african township of sharpeville in transvaal now part of gauteng, following a day of demonstrations, police opened fire on a crowd of around 5,000 to 7,000 protestors. Marz 1960 zu gewaltfreien demonstrationen in sharpeville, rund 50.
The world judged apartheid to be morally bankrupt and the political agitation that ensued would eventually overturn white supremacy. On march 21, 1960, a line of 150 white policemen fired 44 rounds into a crowd of several thousand people assembled outside a police. The south african government passed a law that said they could arrest without a warrant, which made it easy to arrest nelson mandela. The south african police opened fire on the crowd, killing. March 21st is human rights day in south africa and marks a very important event in the countrys history. Sep 14, 2017 berry captured a pivotal moment in south african history. On 21 march 1960 several hundred black africans were injured and 69 killed when south african police opened fire on demonstrators in the township of sharpeville, protesting against the apartheid regimes racist pass laws. Sep 03, 2019 the sharpeville massacre, which occurred on march 21, 1960, in the township of sharpeville, south africa, was the incident that to that point resulted in the deaths of the largest number of south africans in a protest against apartheid. When the news of the sharpeville massacre reached cape town a group of between to 5000 protesters gathered at the langa flats bus terminus around 17h00 on 21 march 1960. Its been 60 years since dozens of protesters were killed at. Sharpeville massacre, march 21, 1960, incident in the black township of sharpeville, near vereeniging, south africa, in which police fired on a crowd of black people, killing or wounding some 250 of. This 1960 timeline lists all the important events that may have been forgotten over the past 50 years. After a day of demonstrations against pass laws, a crowd of about 7,000 protesters went to the police station. Seven out of ten shot in the back at sharpeville archive.
How the sharpeville massacre changed the course of human. This paper is published at the request of the united nations special commaittee against apartheid as part of the observance of the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination. Mar 21, 2019 now a public holiday, march 21 marks human rights day in south africa, commemorating the sharpeville massacre of 1960, which became a catalyst in the fight against apartheid. The sharpeville massacre was an event which occurred on 21 march 1960, at the police station in the south african township of sharpeville in transvaal today part of gauteng. List of victims of police action, 21 march, 1960 sharpeville and langa pass laws and sharpeville massacre. Apartheid nelson mandela guide libguides at cornell. On march 21, 1960, a line of 150 white policemen fired 44 rounds into a crowd of. Sharpeville is one of the oldest townships in southern gautengs vaal triangle.
Littlehampton book services, durrington 1960, isbn 0575011491. A surgeon gave evidence at a judicial inquiry following the. On 21 march 1960 the police shot and killed 69 people because they stood up for their human rights. On march 21, 1960, south african police officers opened fire on a crowd of black protesters who had surrounded a police station in sharpeville, killing 69 people. May 12, 2011 the sharpeville massacre, as the event has become known, marked the start of armed resistance in south africa, and prompted worldwide condemnation of south africas apartheid policies. The sharpeville massacre, which occurred on march 21, 1960, in the township of sharpeville, south africa, was the incident that to that point resulted in the deaths of the largest number of south africans in a protest against apartheid it also came to symbolize that struggle.
This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. In similar demonstrations at the police station in vanderbijlpark, another person was shot. They did not hesitate to burn their reference books, and police eventually open fired on the crowd. The sharpeville massacre in 1960 began by blacks protesting the pass laws. Sixtynine men, women and children died and at least 180 were injured when police fired at a. Early in 1960 both the anc and pac embarked on a feverish drive to prepare their. Most of the people who were killed were shot in the back, hit while running away. This weekend it is exactly 55 years since the name of this small place reverberated around the world. The event also played a role in south africas departure from the commonwealth of nations in 1961. Apr 04, 2020 news long reads how the sharpeville massacre changed the course of human rights. On march 21, 1960, a line of 150 white policemen fired 44 rounds into a crowd of several thousand people assembled outside a police station, protesting against the apartheid regimes racist pass laws.
When the news of the sharpeville massacre reached cape town a group of between to 5000 protestors gathered at the langa flats bus terminus around 17h00 on 21 march 1960. Sixtynine people were killed and close to 200 injured in the demonstrations. Now a public holiday, march 21 marks human rights day in south africa, commemorating the sharpeville massacre of 1960, which became a catalyst in. The south african police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people and injuring 180 others. Participants were instructed to surrender their reference books passes and invite arrest. The sharpeville massacre occurred on 21 march 1960, at the police station in the south african township of sharpeville in transvaal today part of gauteng after a day of demonstrations against pass laws, a crowd of about 7,000 protesters went to the police station. In sharpeville, tom lodge explains how and why the massacre occurred, looking at the social and political background to the events of march 1960 as well as the. Relying on fascinating archival testimonies of demonstrators but little from the police lodge explains that the protests had been. Mar 18, 2015 sharpeville is one of the oldest townships in southern gautengs vaal triangle. Sixtynine protesters died, and the massacre became an iconic moment in the struggle against apartheid.
Seven out of ten shot in the back at sharpeville archive, 1960 4 may 1960. Mar 21, 2018 today, in presentday south africa, march 21, is celebrated as a public holiday in honor of human rights and to commemorate the sharpeville massacre. Berry captured a pivotal moment in south african history. Arch 1960 its historic significance the struggle against apartheid 7 jtote. May 12, 2011 the events at sharpeville deeply affected the attitudes of both black and white in south africa and provided a major stimulus to the development of an international antiapartheid movement. Nelson mandela burns his pass in protest of apartheid and the massacre at sharpeville, 1960. Of the top location residents, blacks were moved to sharpeville, coloureds to rustervaal and indians to roshnee.
Dec 31, 2019 immediately following the sharpeville massacre in south africa, over students demonstrated in sydney against the apartheid system. Mar 17, 2015 when the news of the sharpeville massacre reached cape town a group of between to 5000 protesters gathered at the langa flats bus terminus around 17h00 on 21 march 1960. Black people were forcibly relocated here and in 1960 it had only two tarred. On 21 march 1960 at least 180 black africans were injured there are claims of as many as 300 and 69 killed when south african police opened fire on approximately 300 demonstrators, who were protesting against the pass laws, at the township of sharpeville, near vereeniging in the transvaal.
Sharpeville marked unquestionably a turning point in the struggle for liberation in azania. Sharpeville massacre takes place in south africa, pass laws were used to restrict the movement of blacks by requiring them to carry pass books when they travel outside their homeland. During the 1950s the anc had a minimal presence in sharpeville, but at the end of the decade there was some support there for the recently formed pac. While sharpeville is a long book, it is well sustained by its strengths. Eyewitness accounts of the sharpeville massacre 1960.
Sharpeville is much more than the site of a massacre the. On march 21, 1960, 3,000 black south africans gathered to protest one of the most hated restrictions against the nations black majority. They burnt their reference books and refused to put out the fire, which resulted in 67 deaths. As we drove through the fringes of the township many people shouted the panafricanist slogan izwe lethu, which means our land, or gave the thumbsup freedom salute and shouted afrika. The savage massacre of african patriots at sharpeville and other places in south africa on 21 march 1960 is of paramount significance in the struggle against apartheid and needs to be understood in its historical scope. On 16 march 1960, sobukwe wrote to the commissioner of police, major general rademeyer, stating that the pac would be holding a fiveday, nonviolent, disciplined, and sustained protest campaign against pass laws, starting on 21 march. Sharpeville massacre, march 21, 1960, incident in the black township of sharpeville, near vereeniging,south africa, in which police fired on a crowd of blacks, killing or wounding some 250 of them. Womens resistance in the 1960s sharpeville and its aftermath. That dreadful day, 21 march 1960, was a turning point in south african history. Named after the glaswegian immigrant john lillie sharp, sharpeville is a township about 30 miles south of johannesburg. The sharpeville massacre the sharpeville massacre cmhr. On 21 march, human rights day, south africa remembered the sharpeville massacre of 50 years ago, when police clashed with crowds protesting against unjust apartheid laws. On march 21, 1960, police in sharpeville, south africa, shot hundreds of people protesting laws that restricted the movement of blacks.