“whilst we were still singing,without any word, without any argument,we just heard the guns being fired"
we just heard the guns being fired"
SHARPEVILLE MASSACRE
“whilst we were still singing,
Apartheid police brutality exposed
Sharpeville Massacre
The Sharpeville Massacre of 21st March 1960 took place in the township of Sharpeville in which police fired on a crowd of more than 20,000 black protestors. These events marked one of the first most violent demonstrations of the apartheid era that was prevalent in South Africa. Furthermore, this was a turning point in the struggle for liberation.
- Peaceful demonstration in the township Sharpeville for the abolition of South Africa’s pass law.
The protestors marched to the local police station without their passes and ask to be arrested. - The plan of the demonstration was: If thousands of people were arrested, then the jails would be filled and the economy would come to a standstill.
- Police opened fire on peaceful protestors, firing 700 bullets.
- 69 people were killed and more than 180 people were injured, mostly shot in the back as they fled the violence.
- Police putting guns and knives in the hands of dead victims, to make it look like the protestors were armed and violent.
- Inside Sharpeville:
fear to talk about the tragedy
“Nobody dared say anything, because if you did you were arrested. I couldn’t even attend the burial, because only women and children were allowed there. “- Albert Mbongo
- Elsewhere:
– ANC members including Nelson Mandela burned their passes in solidarity
-the brutality of the event caused international outrages for the first time regarding the apartheid system
– May 01, 1969 the UN General Assembly declared that apartheid was a violation of the UN Charter
– 1969: May 21st becomes International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Discover the elements of the artifact:
In late 1959, the President General of the ANC, Chief Albert Luthuli, announced that 1960 was going to be the “Year of the Pass.” Through a series of mass actions, the ANC planned to launch a nationwide anti-pass campaign targeting South Africa’s pass law.
The campaign’s slogan was “NO BAIL! NO DEFENCE! NO FINE!”
“There was a time when we could shoot as many people as we liked and the world did not seem to care.” – Minister of Justice F.C. Erasmus
This quotes shows the lack of international attention and sanctions against the apartheid system during that time.
Shouts of the protestors
"Awaphele amapasti!"
"Down with the Passes!"
Just before the massacre begins, an armoured vehicle drives through a crowd of people chanting.
Then, suddenly the police opened fired on peaceful protestors.
700 bullets were fired.
Mostly of the victims were shot in the back as they fled the violence.
“I tried to look back. People were falling, scattered. There was blood streaming down my leg. I Tried to hobble. I struggled to get home.” – Lydia Mahabuke
Police putting guns and knives in the hands of dead victims, to make it look like the protestors were armed and violent.
Nelson Mandela burning his pass in solidarity to the Sharpeville massacre. His intention was to initiate a mass pass-burning campaign. But the government clammed down all related protests and banned the African National Congress for thirty years.
About the Archive
The University of the Western Cape – Robben Island Mayibuye Archives are housed in main library of the campus. It was officially opened in June 2001, and contains unique and fragile documentary records of South Africa’s apartheid history and culture, as well as the freedom struggle.
The archives comprise of different forms of material categorised in collections of Historical Papers, Audio-Visual, Photographic, and Arts & Artefacts.
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