Sharpeville massacre a painful reminder of sacrifices made – SABC News

by Dibolelo Mance
Sixty-six years ago on this day (21 March 2026), human rights of the people of Sharpeville were grossly violated.
Residents had taken a stance. Never again would they allow themselves to be treated as second class citizens in the country of their birth. The indignity of carrying passes on their person was humiliating. So was having to be stopped, particularly at what were viewed as ‘Whites only’ areas and put ‘in their place’ by people, some young enough to be their children.
It was enough and it had to stop. And it would be stopped. Unfortunately and unbeknownst to them, that would come at a very heavy price. Blood would be shed, people maimed and lives would be lost. And so it happened. What had initially been planned to be a peaceful march to a local police station to dispose of their passes turned into mayhem. Let me rephrase. It turned into a bloodbath. Shots rang out from the perennially paranoid, trigger-happy police.
People scattered in different directions to flee from the homicidal maniacs in police uniform. The air was pregnant with gun smoke, dust and the thick smell of flesh which had been pierced by blazing hot bullets. It was chaos. Bodies dropped and agonizing screams drowned the rattling sounds of gunfire. People died. Days later, their bodies were lowered into gaping holes, but their spirit refused to die. They spurred those who survived the massacre and millions more across the country to intensify the struggle for freedom.
Victory was certain and on that glorious 27 April 1994 day, the long arduous journey for freedom finally arrived. The barbaric apartheid rule came to a screeching end. Finally, we would be treated with the equality and respect we deserve. We took on the massive responsibility of leading government. It was not easy but we did very well.
While we accept that mistakes have been made along the way, we must not be too hard on ourselves. We have done well given the challenges we have been faced with. Today, the children of Xhariep have a realistic chance of making something of themselves with the newly built Oranjekrag Combined School hostel which will accommodate a total of 200 learners. They will no lobger have to walk long distances to and from school. Their every needs will be attended to at the soon to be opened facility. That is human rights.
In Ladybrand, an old and dilapidated building has been successfully converted into office accommodation and veterinary clinic for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. That is progress. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in the Free State has successfully trained young men and women to become artisans. These are people who had initially joined the department as part of the expanded public works programme, but we saw potential in them and decided to empower them. That is human rights.
Therefore, as we commemorate this historic day in our country, we must constantly remind ourselves of the sacrifices made by those who came before us. We must always ensure that we do right by our people because to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.
Happy Human Rights Day.
Dibolelo Mance is Member of the Executive Council responsible for Public Works and Infrastructure.

www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/sharpeville-massacre-a-painful-reminder-of-sacrifices-made/