SHARPEVILLE — 1960 · Major Tragedy
The Sharpeville Massacre
On 21 March 1960, at the call of the Pan Africanist Congress, thousands gathered outside the Sharpeville police station to protest the pass laws that required Black South Africans to carry passbooks. Police opened fire on the crowd; officially 69 people were killed, a toll later revised to at least 91, and hundreds were wounded. Many were shot in the back as they fled. The government declared a state of emergency, detained thousands and banned the ANC and PAC. The massacre became a turning point that pushed the anti-apartheid struggle towards armed resistance. 21 March is now Human Rights Day in South Africa.
- Date
- 1960
- Place
- Gauteng, South Africa, Sharpeville, ZA
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- -26.6840, 27.8710 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 21 March 1960Police opened fire on the crowd outside Sharpeville police station.
- 30 March 1960The government declared a state of emergency.
- April 1960The ANC and PAC were banned.
- After 199421 March was declared Human Rights Day.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Sharpeville massacre en.wikipedia.org ↗
- BlackPast — Sharpeville Massacre blackpast.org ↗
- Magnum Photos — Ian Berry: The Sharpeville Massacre magnumphotos.com ↗
- South African History Online — Sharpeville Massacre, 21 March 1960 sahistory.org.za ↗
- Wikipedia
- BlackPast
- Magnum Photos
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.