Sharpeville massacre

Quick Facts: Who was Sharpeville massacre?

Subject:

Sharpeville massacre

Known for:

The 1960 massacre where police opened fire on unarmed protestors against apartheid laws.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Sharpeville massacre occurred on 21 March 1960, when police opened fire on a crowd of people who had assembled outside the police station in the township of Sharpeville in the then Transvaal Province of the then Union of South Africa (today part of Gauteng) to protest against the apartheid system and its pass laws. A crowd of approximately 5,000 people gathered in Sharpeville that day in response to the call made by the Pan-Africanist Congress to leave their pass-books at home and to demand that the police arrest them for contravening the pass laws. The protesters were told that they would be addressed by a government official and they waited outside the police station as more police officers arrived, including senior members of the Security Branch. At 1.30 pm, without issuing a warning, the police fired 1,344 rounds into the crowd. For more than fifty years the number of people killed and injured has been based on the police record, which included 249 victims in total, including 29 children, with 69 people killed and 180 injured.

Career & Major Achievements

More recent research has shown that at least 91 people were killed at Sharpeville and at least 238 people were wounded. Many people were shot in the back as they fled from the police. The massacre was photographed by photographer Ian Berry, who initially thought the police were firing blanks. In present-day South Africa, 21 March is commemorated as a public holiday in honour of human rights and to commemorate the Sharpeville massacre. In 2024, the area where the massacre occurred and the memorial became a World Heritage Site, known as Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Sharpeville was first built in 1943 to replace Topville, a nearby township that suffered overcrowding where illnesses like pneumonia were widespread. Due to the illness, removals from Topville began in 1958. Approximately 10,000 Indigenous Africans were forcibly removed to Sharpeville. Sharpeville had a high rate of unemployment as well as high crime rates. There were also youth problems because many children joined gangs and were affiliated with crimes instead of schools.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1943: 1943 Milestone — Sharpeville was first built in 1943 to replace Topville, a nearby township that suffered overcrowding where illnesses like pneumonia were widespread.
2. 1958: 1958 Milestone — Due to the illness, removals from Topville began in 1958.
3. 1960: 1960 Milestone — The Sharpeville massacre occurred on 21 March 1960, when police opened fire on a crowd of people who had assembled outside the police station in the township of Sharpeville in the then Transvaal Province of the then Union of South Africa (today part of Gauteng) to protest against the apartheid system and its pass laws.
4. 2024: 2024 Milestone — In 2024, the area where the massacre occurred and the memorial became a World Heritage Site, known as Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Sharpeville massacre

True or False: “The initial official police records accurately accounted for the total number of casualties at Sharpeville.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Police records significantly underestimated the true toll; recent research suggests at least 91 people were killed and over 238 wounded.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Sharpeville massacre