1959-1968

• Sharpeville Massacre occurred


  21st of March 1960
• Peaceful protesters converged in Sharpeville, a township south of Johannesburg, to demonstrate against the discriminatory pass laws
• Police opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the deaths of 69 people and the injury of 180 others
• Group Areas Act of 1950


  Forcibly relocated black South Africans to designated areas such as Sharpeville
• By 1958, approximately 10,000 individuals had been moved to Sharpeville under this oppressive legislation, exacerbating tensions and discontent among the local population
• Tsolo Nykane led the PAC in Sharpeville and called on bus drivers to transport people to Sharpeville, coercing compliance to amplify the demonstration's impact.
• PAC members' strategy


  Willingly subjected themselves to arrest, anticipating the government's harsh response
• Contrary to its intended peaceful nature, the Sharpeville protest culminated in tragedy due to the unease of police officers and a fatal order given by a low-ranking officer to open fire on the unarmed crowd
• In the aftermath of Sharpeville, the government's heavy-handed response only intensified, with police callously mistreating the deceased and injured, and escalating crackdowns on dissent
• Over 10,000 individuals were arrested under the State of Emergency declared in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre
• The reverberations of Sharpeville extended beyond the township itself, sparking protests in other regions such as Cape Town
• On the 21st of March 1960, 6000 individuals gathered in Langa, where over 20 were killed by police. Subsequently, a Cape Town-wide strike ensued, with 95% of the city's African population participating, and 50,000 mourners attended the funerals of those who perished in the violence
• Despite the international outcry following Sharpeville, its significance was somewhat muted as the apartheid government remained entrenched, and the plight of black Africans persisted unabated
• The passage of the Unlawful Organizations Act in April 1960 further entrenched repression, declaring both the ANC and PAC illegal entities
• The attempted assassination of Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd in April 1960 underscored the heightened tensions and uncertainty within South Africa, as did the increased acquisition of firearms by white citizens
• The enactment of draconian legislation such as the Sabotage Act of 1962 and the General Laws Amendment Act of 1963 further stifled dissent, imposing severe penalties and eroding civil liberties
• The Sharpeville Massacre epitomized the brutality of apartheid and galvanized the resistance movement, laying bare the urgent need for change in South Africa's racially divided society
• The aftermath of the Sharpeville Massacre witnessed a seismic shift in South Africa's political landscape, as the apartheid government sought to quell dissent and maintain its grip on power
• In the wake of the massacre, the government moved swiftly to suppress opposition, declaring both the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) unlawful organizations
• The Unlawful Organizations Act of April 1960 provided legal cover for the state's repressive actions, allowing for the arbitrary arrest and detention of individuals deemed to be threats to the regime
• Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK)


  The armed wing of the ANC, emerged as a response to the failure of peaceful protests to effect meaningful change
• Founded in December 1961, MK embarked on a campaign of sabotage aimed at disrupting the apartheid state's infrastructure and economic stability
• Nelson Mandela and Joe Slovo

  Led MK
• MK's tactics represented a departure from the non-violent strategies employed by the ANC in previous years
• Poqo, the PAC's armed wing, also engaged in acts of sabotage and violence, albeit with less widespread support and visibility than MK
• Formed in the early 1960s, Poqo's militant approach reflected the organization's belief in the necessity of armed struggle to achieve liberation
• The Mbhashe Bridge killings in 1963, in which Poqo militants targeted and killed five white individuals, underscored the group's commitment to violence as a means of resistance
• Both MK and Poqo shared a common goal: the overthrow of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial democracy in South Africa
• The United Nations played a crucial role in highlighting the injustices of apartheid and mobilizing global opinion against the South African regime
• The Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) in Britain mobilized public opinion and advocated for boycotts and sanctions against the apartheid regime
• Spearheaded by activists and politicians, the AAM sought to isolate South Africa economically and politically, compelling the international community to confront the reality of apartheid
• Sports became a battleground for anti-apartheid activism, as campaigns to exclude South Africa from international competitions gained traction
• FIFA's decision to ban South Africa from international football competitions exemplified the power of sporting boycotts in isolating the apartheid regime and highlighting its systemic injustices
• The solidarity and support extended to the anti-apartheid movement from across the globe served as a source of inspiration and strength, bolstering the resolve of activists within South Africa and amplifying their calls for justice and equality
• The Rivonia Trial, which lasted from October 1963 to June 1964, became a pivotal moment in the anti-apartheid movement
• Ten prominent leaders, including Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Denis Goldberg, James Kantor, and others, stood trial for sabotage, facing the possibility of the death penalty
• During the trial, Mandela delivered a powerful three-hour-long speech, denouncing the legitimacy of the court and justifying his actions as a response to unjust laws
• Despite their impassioned defense, the accused were ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment, a decision aimed at preventing them from becoming martyrs and averting potential economic sanctions from the international community
• The imprisonment of key leaders, including Mandela, deprived the ANC of its most influential figures and hindered its ability to lead effectively from within prison walls
• The Morogoro Conference of 1967 marked a critical moment of reorganization for resistance groups, reaffirming their commitment to armed struggle and inspiring a new generation of activists