Resistance to apartheid and government reaction 1960-61 Flashcards
Why were peaceful protests before sharpeville proving ineffective
-repressive legislation from gov
-too occupied with treason trial
Why did the pass law protest of 31 and 21 of march in 1960 fail
Poorly organised
Sobukwe protested and told the police to arrest them which they did as there was so few protesters
Why was Sharpeville prime for radicalisation
1959 new police station-energetic in checking passes and deporting illegal residents and conducting raids
-gangs and 40% of pop was under 18
Resentment
Describe the events of the sharpeville massacre
-21 march 5000-20000 protesters gathered outside police station
Peaceful protest demanding arrest for not having passes
Impractical for police to do so
400 police 200 white officers with 300 rifles and 200 African officers with clubs
Drunken demonstrator may of fired pistol in air At same time a officer fell over making people think he was shot
Police opened fire onto protesters 69 killed 200 injured
70% killed were shot in the back
Police planted stones to make protesters look bad and kicked and killed wounded
Who was to blame for sharpeville
Police on edge after nine colleagues were killed at Cato
Senior officers were indecisive
People impatient and tense
Arrested Tolso who was controlling crowd
Police tried to Marshall people into field people though it was a killing field
Reasons why sharpeville strengthen the gov
State of emergency 30 march 1960 over 10000 arrested
ANC and PAC were banned
Sabotage act 1962 death penalty made tortured professions legal
General law amendment act 1963 90 day detention Sobukwe put in house arrest
Bantu laws amendment act allowed East African deportation
Reasons why sharpeville strengthen opposition
Photographs took graphic evidence USA and uk declared apartheid against Un delaration of human rights
France and Uk abstained business links with SA rand devalued
White fears of public safety increased de,and for guns rose
Attempted assassination of Verwoerd
Move to violence from ANC AND PAC militant wings
30,000 protesters marched on gov on passes in Cape Town
Gobs reaction = rattled tried to reassure whites and investors they were in control
