While South Africans around the country enjoy their chance to have a day off on 21 March, many may forget the events which led to it becoming a public holiday.
On this day, in 1960, 69 people died and 180 were wounded when a group of people gathered in Sharpeville township to protest pass laws.
The laws attempted to prevent the movement of black people within urban areas. Between 5 000 and 10 000 people marched to the local police station to offer themselves up to be arrested for not carrying their pass books.
The Native Laws Amendment Act of 1952 stated that legally no black person could leave a rural area for an urban one without a permit from the local authorities, and on arrival in an urban area, the person had to obtain a permit within 72 hours to seek work. The Reference Book, or Pass, included a photograph, details of place of origin, employment record, tax payments, and encounters with the police.
Initially, the protest was considered to be happy and jovial with only a few police officers present. However, as the crowd grew, more than 100 police officers were called in for support. The police officers were armed and the atmosphere at the protest changed. Police officers began to shoot at the protesters who were allegedly throwing stones. The entire incident only lasted a few minutes, however, the repercussions would have a significant impact on South Africa’s history.
The uproar surrounding the shooting was evident for weeks afterwards, with many protest marches and demonstrations taking place. On 30 March 1960, the government declared a state of emergency, detaining thousands of people, including prominent anti-apartheid activists.
The democratic government declared 21 March as Human Rights Day to commemorate and honour those who fought for the rights that South Africans enjoy today. This year, the government will commemorate Human Rights Month under the theme, The Year of Indigenous Languages: Promoting and Deepening a Human Rights Culture.
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