58-472: 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 pass laws . A crowd of approximately 5,000 people gathered in Sharpeville that day in response to the call made by
116-446: A chain reaction that lasted about forty seconds. Few of the policemen present had received public order training. Some of them had been on duty for over twenty-four hours without respite. Some insight into the mindset of those on the police force was provided by Lieutenant Colonel Pienaar, the commanding officer of the police reinforcements at Sharpeville, who said in his statement that "the native mentality does not allow them to gather for
174-809: A labour bureau, name of employer and address, and details of personal history. Leading up to the Sharpeville massacre, the National Party administration under the leadership of Hendrik Verwoerd used these laws to enforce greater racial segregation and, in 1959–1960, extended them to include women. From the 1960s, the pass laws were the primary instrument used by the state to detain and harass its political opponents. These laws forced Africans to carry special identification that police and other authorities could check at any time. The government used passes to restrict where Africans could work, live and travel. The Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), led by its founding President Robert Sobukwe , marched peacefully and unarmed to
232-422: 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 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. Furthermore,
290-651: A new police station was created, from which the police were energetic to check passes, deporting illegal residents, and raiding illegal shebeens . South African governments since the eighteenth century had enacted measures to restrict the flow of African South Africans into cities. Pass laws, intended to control and restrict their movement and employment, were updated in the 1950s. Under the country's National Party government, African residents in urban districts were subject to influx control measures. Individuals over sixteen were required to carry passbooks , which contained an identity card, employment and influx authorisation from
348-499: A peaceful demonstration. For them to gather means violence." He also denied giving any order to fire and stated that he would not have done so. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission found in 1998 that "the evidence of Commission deponents reveals a degree of deliberation in the decision to open fire at Sharpeville and indicates that the shooting was more than the result of inexperienced and frightened police officers losing their nerve." The uproar among South Africa's black population
406-449: A plot of land that are rented out by the land owner for additional income. Plots of land designed for single-family houses have been turned into plots, that, on average hold six families instead of one. These structures are illegally built in violation of planning and building codes and strain the infrastructure. Governments are loath to act on backyard dwellings, as doing so would result in large-scale displacement of people. A 2001 study of
464-512: A problem in townships and children as young as 12 or 13 get initiated into local gangs. Some see violence and gangs as a way of life and a part of their culture. The weapon of choice for most is a gun and with easy accessibility anyone is able to get one. It is estimated that out of the 14 million guns in circulation, in South Africa, only four million are registered and licensed to legal gun owners. Largest townships in South Africa at
522-410: A rapid period of urbanisation as the colour bar was relaxed due to the war. Neither employers nor the government built new accommodations or homes for the influx of new residents. This led to overcrowding, poor living conditions, thus, contributing to high levels of crime and violence . High rents and overcrowding led to land invasions and the growth of shack settlements, which were largely ignored by
580-545: A township (in the legal sense) is established and then the adjoining townships, with the same name as the original township, and with a numbered "Extension" suffix are later established. For example, the Johannesburg suburb of Bryanston has an extension called Bryanston Extension 3 . In traditionally or historically white areas, the term "suburb" is used for legally-defined residential townships in everyday conversation. A suburb's boundaries are often regarded as being
638-630: Is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed and produced by Alvis from 1952 to 1976. It has been used by a variety of operators around the world and is still in use in secondary roles in some countries. The Saracen became a recognisable vehicle as a result of its part in Operation Banner in Northern Ireland as well as for its role in the South African government 's enforcement of apartheid . The FV603 Saracen
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#1732772261057696-508: Is informal and unregulated by the government. This results in a lack of access to basic services such as sewerage, electricity, roads, and clean water, which adversely affects the residents' quality of life. Sewerage, water, and electrical infrastructure within townships are often in need of repair, resulting in a lack of sanitation due to problems with accessibility and availability. Electricity, water, and sewerage are managed by different government departments, resulting in inefficiencies in
754-782: Is killed, "he were run over by a Saracen" when he attempts to escape his IRA captors. During the 2009 G-20 demonstrations in London, members of the Space Hijackers protest group drove their Saracen into the City of London and parked it outside the Royal Bank of Scotland in Bishopsgate. The Saracen, which had been painted bright blue with black and white chequered stripes , was equipped with CCTV and marked "RIOT" (but not "police"). The group were reportedly there to protect
812-431: Is mainly attributable to higher and more rapid drop-out rates among the poor, rather than to a lack of initial access to schooling. The formerly white schools uniformly produce better results as their governing bodies are able to raise substantial private funds. These funds are used to get resources that are usually inaccessible for the rural and township schools which survive on the commitment of their teachers. Gangs are
870-638: The Salamander airfield crash truck , and the Stalwart high mobility load carrier. The punt chassis , suspension, and H-drive drivetrain remained similar, but the engine, transmission, and braking systems varied significantly. The Saracen was in turn used as an armoured personnel carrier, armoured command vehicle, and ambulance. The FV 603 model saw many variants in detail, including radio or command fitments and specialist equipment for artillery or signals use. The Saracen series also includes: Saracen
928-582: The South African government "for its steadfast policy of segregation and the [staunch] adherence to their traditions in the face of overwhelming external agitation." The resolution passed 78–8 in the Mississippi House of Representatives and 45–0 in the Mississippi State Senate . Since 1994, 21 March has been commemorated as Human Rights Day in South Africa. Sharpeville was the site selected by President Nelson Mandela for
986-583: The 1980s in Northern Ireland and was a familiar sight, nicknamed 'Sixers', during " The Troubles ". At times, they appeared on the streets of Hull , a less-hostile atmosphere for driver training in a city of similar appearance to Belfast , and only a few miles from the Army School of Mechanical Transport . As a member of the FV 600 series, it shared a similar chassis to the FV601 Saladin armoured car,
1044-776: The Orlando police station in Soweto and demanded to be arrested as they were not prepared to a carry dompass, on 21 March, simultaneously a university student, a member of the PAC, Philip Ata Kgosana led the very same march in the Cape Province in Langa Township. On 21 March 1960, a group of approximately 5,000 people gathered at the Sharpeville police station, offering themselves up for arrest for not carrying their passbooks. The Sharpeville police were not completely unprepared for
1102-498: 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 protestors 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 notorious Security Branch. At 1.30pm, without issuing a warning, the police fired 1,344 rounds into
1160-514: The RBS building from "bad" demonstrators, although the police declined their assistance. Instead, the vehicle was searched and police questioned the protestors, who were dressed in plain blue overalls and helmets. The vehicle's eleven occupants were arrested for impersonating police officers and for traffic offences, and were later charged with impersonating police officers, although the case was dropped before coming to court. A community protest against
1218-627: The Sharpeville Human Rights Precinct. In 2024, the area where the massacre occurred and the memorial became a World Heritage Site , known as Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites. UNESCO marks 21 March as the yearly International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination , in memory of the massacre. The Afrikaner poet Ingrid Jonker mentioned the Sharpeville Massacre in her verse. The event
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#17327722610571276-537: The South African Police. In the 1983 debut album Script for a Jester's Tear , by British progressive rock group Marillion , the Saracen was referred to in the final song: "...crawling behind a Saracen's hull from the safety of his living room chair..." The lyrics of Forgotten Sons describe the conflict in Northern Ireland and the discrepancy between what was really happening and the perception of
1334-664: The United Nations. On 1 April 1960, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 134 . Sharpeville marked a turning point in South Africa's history; the country found itself increasingly isolated in the international community. The event also played a role in South Africa's departure from the Commonwealth of Nations in 1961. The Sharpeville massacre contributed to the banning of the PAC and ANC as illegal organisations. The massacre
1392-475: The absence of substantial coordination at all stages of the project planning, budgeting, and implementation cycle. The sewer systems within townships are poorly planned and constructed. The population of townships typically grows faster than what the infrastructure was planned for, causing overloads that result in blockages, surges, and overflows. There often are only a limited number of public toilets that are overused, abused, and quickly become health hazards for
1450-472: The back as they turned to flee, causing some to be paralyzed. Some of the victims were buried en masse in a ceremony performed by clergy. Philip Finkie Molefe, responsible for establishing the first Assemblies of God church in the Vaal , was among the clergy that conducted the service. Police reports in 1960 claimed that young and inexperienced police officers panicked and opened fire spontaneously, setting off
1508-415: The communities. Another issue is poor access to maintenance activities, which is caused by a lack of space between houses. Some of the areas on the township peripheries or near the riverbanks do not have access to sanitation facilities because they are not connected to the formal waterborne sewerage system. A consequence of inadequate pumping infrastructure and large populations is that the water pressure in
1566-669: The conflict by the British public. In the Irish rebel music song Kinky Boots (a parody of The Combine Harvester ) reference is made to the Saracen in the opening line of the song. In the 1984 Indonesian film Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI , Saracens were used by the Indonesian Army and the Kostrad as patrol vehicles during the infamous 30 September Movement coup d'etat . Saracens are also used as transport during state funerals of
1624-452: The continuing growth of the townships. Constructing houses in the dried up tributaries is a potential problem in the event of a large storm as the tributary starts to fill up with water again or in case of a backup of sewerage coming into the tributary. The houses built in that area stand the risk of being destroyed by natural occurrences. As the area grows, the tributaries are piped and a number of concrete aprons and gullies are constructed over
1682-698: The crowd there, including the cutting of telephone lines into Sharpeville, and preventing bus drivers from driving their routes. By 10:00, a large crowd had gathered, and the atmosphere was initially peaceful and festive. Fewer than 20 police officers were present in the station at the start of the protest. Later the crowd grew to about 20,000, and while some news reports described the mood as "ugly", this has been contested by witnesses who were there, including photographer Ian Berry. 130 police officers supported by four Saracen armoured personnel carriers arrived in Sharpeville. The police were armed with firearms, including Sten submachine guns and Lee–Enfield rifles. There
1740-411: 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. 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
1798-433: The demonstration, as they had already driven smaller groups of more militant activists away the previous night. The PAC actively organized to increase turnout to the demonstration, distributing pamphlets and appearing in person to urge people not to go to work on the day of the protest. Many of the civilians present attended voluntarily to support the protest, but there is evidence that the PAC also used coercive means to draw
Sharpeville massacre - Misplaced Pages Continue
1856-459: The female leading role), the villainous Dr Matthew Chivers (played by Francis Matthews) is trying to smuggle a Saracen FV 603 out of a British Army testing area by shrinking it to toy size with the help of a machine invented by his boss Professor Rushton (played by Noel Howlett). In the Tom Sharpe novel Riotous Assembly , a Saracen is destroyed by an elephant gun fired by Constable Els of
1914-411: The government's disinclination to encourage power usage by non-residents. Some townships, such as Alexandra and Diepsloot , are built near rivers, and on flood plains . These areas are extremely dense with only tortuous, narrow access, few communal water points and banks of chemical toilets on the peripheries of the settlements. The settlements are beginning to be built in the old tributaries due to
1972-645: The government. By 1950, a large portion of the urban black population lived in townships. In 1950, upwards of 100,000 people were living in townships on the Witwatersrand area ; 50,000 people lived in Cato Manor in Durban; and an estimated 150,000 black and coloured people lived in townships in Cape Town . Living conditions in the shack township settlements were poor, but they had some advantage over
2030-647: The massacre. South African artist Gavin Jantjes dedicated several prints in his series A South African Colouring Book (1974–75) to the Sharpeville Massacre. Iconic reportage photographs of scattering protesters are arranged alongside stenciled and handwritten captions pulled from news reporting of the unfolding event. The massacre is referenced in the 1992 book Tandia, by South African author Bryce Courtenay. 26°41′18″S 27°52′19″E / 26.68833°S 27.87194°E / -26.68833; 27.87194 Township (South Africa) In South Africa ,
2088-670: The massacre. The poet Duncan Livingstone , a Scottish immigrant from the Isle of Mull who lived in Pretoria , wrote in response to the massacre the Scottish Gaelic poem " Bean Dubh a' Caoidh a Fir a Chaidh a Marbhadh leis a' Phoileas " ("A Black Woman Mourns her Husband Killed by the Police"). A storm of international protest followed the Sharpeville shootings, including sympathetic demonstrations in many countries and condemnation by
2146-603: The other more established options, like hostels, of being cheap and largely unregulated by the apartheid-era South African Police . In 1950, the Group Areas Act was enacted, which empowered the Governor-General to designate land for the sole use of a specific race. Under this law, black people were evicted from properties that were in areas designated as "white only" and forced to move into segregated townships. Separate townships were established for each of
2204-521: The police fell back on the use of their batons. At about 13:00 the police tried to arrest a protester, and the crowd surged forward. The police began shooting shortly thereafter. The apartheid-era police records indicate that that 69 people were killed, including 10 children, and 180 injured, including 19 children. This figure has subsequently been shown to have been greatly under-estimated. New research has shown that at least 91 people were killed and more than 238 people wounded. The police shot many people in
2262-492: The same as the (legal) township boundaries, along with its numbered extensions, and it usually shares its name with the township (with some notable exceptions, such as the Johannesburg suburb known as Rivonia , which is actually the township of Edenburg with numbered extensions called Rivonia Extensions). Occasionally, formerly independent towns, such as Sandton (which itself consists of numerous suburbs), are referred to as "suburbs". Alvis Saracen The FV603 Saracen
2320-535: The signing into law of the Constitution of South Africa on 10 December 1996. In 1998, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) found that the police actions constituted "gross human rights violations in that excessive force was unnecessarily used to stop a gathering of unarmed people." On 21 March 2002, the 42nd anniversary of the massacre, a memorial was opened by former President Nelson Mandela as part of
2378-469: The six Army generals who became victims of the coup. Saracens were used almost unchanged in the 1995 film of Judge Dredd as carriers for prisoners and personnel carriers for Judges . 101 FCs were used as the basis for taxis, fitted with a prop bodyshell. The Saracen is mentioned in the Irish Republican song " Little Armalite ". In the 1992 film The Crying Game, one the main characters
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2436-471: The smaller towns. The slang term " kasie / kasi ", a popular short version of " lokasie " is also used. Townships sometimes have large informal settlements nearby. During 1900–1950 (roughly), the majority of the black population in the major urban areas lived in hostels or servants' accommodations, these were provided by employers, and the workers were mostly single men. In the period during and following World War II , urban areas of South Africa experienced
2494-701: The terms township and location usually refers to an under-developed , racially segregated urban area, from the late 19th century until the end of apartheid , were reserved for non-whites, namely Black Africans , Coloureds and Indians . Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities. The term township also has a distinct legal meaning in South Africa's system of land title , which carries no racial connotations. Townships for non-whites were also called locations or lokasies in Afrikaans and are often still referred to as such in
2552-480: The terms township, location, and informal settlement are not used pejoratively. However, policymakers are, as in the 1950s, once again using the term ' slums ' in a highly pejorative way. Informal settlements that are normally self established around regulated townships are faced with several social problems. Most often, the residents of informal settlements do not own the land on which their houses are built. In effect, these houses are built illegally. Construction
2610-522: The three designated non-white race groups: black people, Coloureds , and Indians – as per the Population Registration Act, 1950 . Most South African towns and cities have at least one township associated with them. Some old townships have seen rapid development since 1994, with, for instance, wealthy and middle-income areas sprouting in parts of Soweto and Chatsworth . Despite their origins in apartheid South Africa, today
2668-566: The time of the 2011 census: The legal meaning of the term "township" in South Africa differs from the popular usage and has a precise legal meaning without any racial connotations. The term is used in land titles and townships are subdivided into erfs (stands). "Township" can also mean a designated area or district, as part of a place name. For instance "Industrial Township" has been used in reference to an industrial area, e.g. "Westmead Industrial Township", in Pinetown , South Africa. Often
2726-467: The township called Diepsloot near Johannesburg showed that 24% of the residents lived in brick structures, 43% were in shack areas, and 27% were in backyard shacks. Township schools are often overcrowded, and lack adequate infrastructure. There is a high dropout rate among poor youth, particularly around Grade 9. Despite government interventions, education outcomes remain skewed, with township students continuing to under-perform. This skewed distribution
2784-423: The townships is very low. Each section of the townships normally has one pump per section. The water is used for everything from washing clothes to cooking, drinking, bathing, and cleaning the house. Having limited water accessible to each section makes it very hard to meet the daily water needs per household. Illegal electricity connections are all-pervasive in the townships with electrical wires strung along
2842-446: The trees leading to power boxes. Although dangerous, every house in the area has a wire coming out of it and every wire is known by their owner in order to fix problems as soon as they arise. Most of the sub-stations are very unsecured to begin with so having so many additional wires coming from them is very dangerous for the people nearby and the kids playing in the area. The electricity infrastructure has not undergone upgrades because of
2900-513: The tributary into which the communal water points drain. The gullies are then choked with garbage and the tributaries appear to be substantially blocked but this will not hold off the water for very long if a flood comes through. Due to overcrowding, residents choose to build on river banks in hopes of easy access to water and laundry facilities, however, the available water is unsuitable for these purposes due to pollution, and they remain vulnerable to floods. Backyard shacks are additional units on
2958-523: The turret, and a Bren light machine gun for the gun-ring at the rear of the vehicle. Later Marks carried the LMG and L37 GPMG . A Saracen masquerades as a German armoured car in the 1964 film 633 Squadron , which was set during World War II , a decade before the Saracen was first built. In the 1967 episode "Mission... Highly Improbable" of the TV series The Avengers (the penultimate episode with Diana Rigg in
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#17327722610573016-451: Was an inspiration for painter Oliver Lee Jackson in his Sharpeville Series from the 1970s. Ingrid de Kok was a child living on a mining compound near Johannesburg where her father worked at the time of the Sharpeville massacre. In her poem "Our Sharpeville" she reflects on the atrocity through the eyes of a child. Max Roach 's 1960 album We Insist! Freedom Now Suite includes the composition " Tears for Johannesburg " in response to
3074-567: Was immediate, and the following week saw demonstrations, protest marches, strikes, and riots around the country. On 30 March 1960, the government declared a state of emergency , detaining more than 18,000 people, including prominent anti-apartheid activists who were known as members of the Congress Alliance including Nelson Mandela and some still enmeshed in the Treason Trial . Many white South Africans were also horrified by
3132-447: Was no evidence that anyone in the gathering was armed with anything other than stones. F-86 Sabre jets and Harvard Trainers approached to within 30 metres (98 ft) of the ground, flying low over the crowd in an attempt to scatter it. The protesters responded by hurling stones (striking three policemen) and rushing the police barricades. Police officers attempted to use tear gas to repel these advances, but it proved ineffectual, and
3190-541: Was one of the catalysts for a shift from passive resistance to armed resistance by these organisations. The foundation of Poqo , the military wing of the PAC, and Umkhonto we Sizwe , the military wing of the ANC, followed shortly afterwards. Not all reactions were negative: embroiled in its opposition to the Civil Rights Movement , the Mississippi House of Representatives voted for a resolution supporting
3248-440: 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. Sharpeville was first built in 1943 to replace Topville,
3306-609: Was produced before Saladin because of the urgent need for a personnel carrier to serve in the Malayan Emergency , entering production in 1952. The Saracen was produced both with and without turrets fitted. They are popular with collectors due to their prices being as low as $ 20,000 in Australia and $ 11,000 in the Czech Republic . Saracens were initially equipped with an L3A4 ( 0.30-inch Browning ) machine gun in
3364-475: Was the armoured personnel carrier of Alvis's FV600 series. Besides the driver and commander, a squad of eight soldiers plus a troop commander could be carried. Most models carried a small turret on the roof, carrying a Browning .30 machine gun . A .303 Bren gun could be mounted on an anti-aircraft ring mount accessed through a roof hatch and there were ports on the sides through which troops could fire. Although removed from active service, it saw extensive use into
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