1960: The Sharpeville massacre and the
Langa march
Unit 1: Formation of the PAC
Summary
- Formation of the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) in 1959.
- Led by Robert Sobukwe, who believed in African self-determination.
- PAC viewed the struggle against apartheid as uniquely African.
- Refused to collaborate with non-African organizations, including white groups.
- Believed white individuals couldn't fully support the cause due to economic interests.
- Key words: Africanist ideology, renegade, dompas (stupid pass).
- PAC colors: black, green, and gold symbolizing African vitality, wealth, and people.
- Robert Sobukwe's background as the first president of the PAC.
Self test questions:
1. When was the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) formed, and who was its first president?
2. What was the core belief of the PAC regarding the struggle against apartheid?
3. Why did the PAC refuse to collaborate with non-African organizations?
4. Explain the significance of the PAC's colors: black, green, and gold.
5. What was Robert Sobukwe's background before becoming the president of the PAC?
Answers
1. The PAC was formed in 1959, and its first president was Robert Sobukwe.
2. The PAC believed that the struggle against apartheid was uniquely African and focused on African
self-determination.
3. The PAC refused to collaborate with non-African organizations because they believed white individuals
had economic interests tied to the apartheid system.
4. The PAC's colors symbolized African vitality (green), wealth (yellow), and the people (black).
,5. Before becoming the president of the PAC, Robert Sobukwe studied at Fort Hare University, worked as
a teacher, and later became a lecturer in African Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Activity 1
1. Which organisation broke away from the ANC in 1959?
2. Read Source A. How did Sobukwe explain why the PAC would not accept European (white) members?
3. Read Source B. How can you tell that this source did not support the formation of the PAC
Activity 1 answers
1. The organization that broke away from the ANC in 1959 was the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC).
2. In Source A, Sobukwe explained why the PAC would not accept European (white) members by stating
that they believed Africans were the only people who, due to their economic position, could be truly
interested in completely changing the present structure of society. While some Europeans (whites) might
support the African cause, they couldn't fully identify with it because they economically benefited from
the existing system.
3. Source B, which states that the Pan Africanist Congress was formed by a group of renegade ANC
members, implies a negative perspective on the formation of the PAC. The term "renegade" suggests a
disloyal or dissenting view, indicating that this source did not support or approve of the breakaway from
the ANC to form the PAC.
Unit 2: Causes and leaders of the Sharpeville
Massacre
Summary
,Causes of the Sharpeville Massacre:
- By 1958, approximately 1.5 million Africans were convicted under pass laws annually.
- Officially called "reference books," passes were commonly known as "dompas."
- Passes symbolized Africans as temporary travelers in 'white South Africa.'
- Pass laws controlled where black people could live, work, and move.
- Passes had to be carried at all times, and failure to produce it instantly led to arrest, prosecution, and
fines or imprisonment.
Leaders of Anti-Pass Demonstrations (21 March 1960):
- In 1960, the ANC and PAC organized anti-pass campaigns against apartheid.
- The PAC advocated 'positive action' against pass laws.
- They planned mass protests, where people left their passes at home and demanded arrest to overwhelm
the system.
- This strategy aimed to clog courts and jails with thousands of people.
Source C - Robert Sobukwe's Statement:
- Robert Sobukwe, leader of the PAC, called for absolute non-violence during the campaign.
- He challenged the other side to demonstrate their brutality to the world.
Self test questions:
1. What were the causes that led to the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960?
2. Explain the significance of the pass laws in apartheid-era South Africa.
3. How did the PAC plan to protest against pass laws in 1960?
4. What was Robert Sobukwe's stance on non-violence during the campaign?
5. What did the PAC hope to achieve by mass arrests during their protests?
Answers
, 1. The Sharpeville Massacre was caused by the enforcement of pass laws, which required black people in
South Africa to carry passes at all times and resulted in mass arrests, prosecutions, fines, and
imprisonment for those who failed to produce them.
2. Pass laws were a fundamental tool used by the apartheid government to control the movement of the
black majority. These laws determined where black people could live and work and mandated that black
adults carry a pass, leading to arrests if they couldn't produce it.
3. The PAC planned to protest pass laws by taking 'positive action.' They encouraged people to leave their
passes at home, demand arrest, and overwhelm the system with mass arrests, thereby disrupting the courts
and jails.
4. Robert Sobukwe emphasized absolute non-violence during the campaign, urging African people to
conduct the campaign peacefully.
5. The PAC hoped that mass arrests would make the pass system unworkable and draw attention to the
injustice of the pass laws by filling up courts and jails with a large number of arrested individuals.
Activity 2
1. What law caused the protest in March 1960?
2. What did the PAC plan for 20 March 1960?
3. Read Source C.
a. What was the form the campaign should take, according to Sobukwe?
b. How can you tell that Sobukwe may have anticipated violence?
Activity 2 answers
1. The protest in March 1960 was caused by the enforcement of pass laws, which required black people in
South Africa to carry passes at all times.
