Sharpeville and its significance

Question 1

Prior events

Answer 1

• After the PAC foundation, some of its organizers managed to mobilize and gather small support (Cape Town and the Vaal Triangle amongst these areas) – SHARPEVILLE (small township in the Vaal Triangle) was a center of protest but one of many major confrontations.
• PAC branch founded 1959 by a few organizers (Tsolo) – when Subokwe called the campaigns against passes the local PAC could spread the word through house-to-house visits quickly.
  The ANC had planned a march on the 31st but the PAC pre-empted & tried to outdo them & the ANC was disturbed.
• PAC membership in Sharpeville was a few hundred but they encouraged participation & threatened those who wanted to go to work (bus drivers).

Question 2

Initial events of protest

Answer 2

21st March 1960 – 5,000 gathered outside the fence surrounding Sharpeville police station (not entirely unprepared as the police had responded in force the night before)
PAC leaders requested the police to arrest them all (inexperienced policemen too) – other crown members there out of curiosity.

Question 3

Change in events after police arrived

Answer 3

• mood changed when police enforcements arrived with armored vehicles and machine guns (130 commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Pienaar) & the crowd was growing in size (20,000).
• Tsolo refused to disperse crowd and the episode surged the crowd forward – Pienaar later admitted he did not warn of an armed response (so ordered the police to load guns).
• Controversial evidence that a local gangster shot twice BUT most likely police un-nervy about this pressure and one policeman before 2pm shouted ‘fire’.

Question 4

Casualties

Answer 4

• The first round fired into the front row, the second mostly shot the backs of those running (atleast 69 died, 10 children, 87 injured).

Question 5

Police response

Answer 5

Police didn’t respond well after shooting, witnesses said they placed stones on the station side to prove they provoked the event and were seen kicking and killing wounded victims.

Question 6

Results of Sharpeville

Answer 6

PAC march largely failed but the reported (many iconic photographs captured – provided graphic evidence) shootings sent ripples through the country and triggered waves of criticism over-sea.

Question 7

Response

Answer 7

• Verwoerd praised the actions of the police which led to mass backlash from black communities (globally too).
• 24th March, Secretary General of PAC – Philip Kgosana gathered at the police station in Caelon square, Cape Town (claimed they should be arrested for not carrying their pass books).
• 28th March – national mourning for victims – national call to ‘stay away from work’ – first national strike in SA history.
• 30th March – Kgosana led 30-50,000 to the police headquarters – agreed to disperse crowd if he could have a meeting with the Minister of Justice but he was deceived and later arrested. He and the PAC leaders charged with incitement – went into exile on bail.
• Government declared a state of emergency – banned the ANC and other opposition grouos (Unlawful Organizations Act) – public meetings outlawed & they could detain people without fear of restrictions from courts.

Question 8

Political effects

Answer 8

• Outlawing stopped neither organizations. Some leaders went into exile abroad & underground secret organization groups used guerrilla tactics.
• The massacre helped shaped ANC policy – Mandela laughed the ‘M Plan’ which started a chain of militant responses both with the ANC and other organizations.
• Campaigns of sabotage – not supported at all (Luthuli) – but growing backing for violence in the struggle.