South Africa's Human Rights Day, 21 March, is synonymous with an innocuous but historic township, Sharpeville.
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On 21 March 1960 at least 180 black people were injured 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. In similar demonstrations at the police station in Vanderbijlpark, another person was shot. Later that day at Langa, a township outside Cape Town, police baton charged and fired tear gas at the gathered protesters, shooting three and injuring several others. The Sharpeville Massacre, as the event has become known, signalled the start of armed resistance in South Africa, and prompted worldwide condemnation of South Africa's Apartheid policies.
PROVINCIAL CELEBRATIONS
Each district will hold events to highlight achievements in the promotion of human rights as well as areas where human rights are still being violated. Members of the EXCO and MPL’s will be deployed to each of the five districts.
| DISTRICT |
TOWN |
| Namakwa | Teinkopf |
| Frances Baard | Delportshoop |
| Siyanda | Riemavasmaak |
| John Taolo Gaetsewe | Deben |
| Pixley Ka Seme | Novalspond |
For any information contact Ms B Samuels at Sports Arts and Culture
CELL: 076 450 4177
TEL: 053 807 4645