While people were celebrating Human Rights Day throughout the country, few of them knows what really transpired on 21 March 1960.
Young people asked why there are no available audio recordings of Robert Sobukwe addressing the people?
What is left of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe are the pictures and his letters which are said to be idling at the Witwatersrand University’s William Cullen Library waiting for someone to write them into a thesis or a book.
Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe led a mass defiance of South Africa’s pass laws.
He urged blacks to take part on a peaceful march to the nearest police station and demand arrest.
Police opened fire on a peaceful crowd in the township of Sharpeville and killed 69 people.
One of the journalist at the time, Mr Benjamin Pogrund said he was there when it all happened.
He further mentioned that before the march, Sobukwe sent a letter to the commissioner of police informing them of the campaign against the pass law and also urging him to make sure police remain non violent.
Nyakane Tsolo, PAC leader of the Sharpeville protest against pass laws which took place on 21 March 1960. Picture Credit: Steve Biko Foundation.
