Schools commemorate Sharpeville Massacre
The primary objective of the event was to facilitate interaction between learners and survivors of the massacre while addressing pertinent human rights issues.
SHARPEVILLE. – The Sharpeville Massacre stands as an indelible chapter in the history of our nation, a poignant reminder of the struggles endured during the apartheid era.
Last Friday, the Matsie-Steyn Primary School, along with eleven other schools including Selborne Primary from Vereeniging, gathered to commemorate and delve deeper into the history of the Sharpeville Massacre. Sixty-four years ago, on March 21, 1960, 69 individuals lost their lives at the hands of the apartheid government during what was meant to be a peaceful march.
Residents of Sharpeville took to the streets in protest against discriminatory laws, particularly the requirement to carry the ‘dompas,’ or passbook, a symbol of oppression. This tragic event has since been commemorated as ‘Sharpeville Shooting Day,’ and more recently renamed as Human Rights Day.
This year’s Human Rights Day took on added significance, with political parties leveraging the historical event to campaign for the upcoming elections on May 29. However, amidst the political fervor, some survivors of the massacre expressed disillusionment with the government, citing unfulfilled promises and stagnant progress in improving their lives.
Notably, former South African President Nelson Mandela signed the country’s constitution at George Thabe Stadium in Sharpeville in 1996, underscoring the significance of the Sharpeville Massacre in shaping the nation’s history.
Matsie-Steyn Primary School and other participating schools chose to host the event on Friday, as schools closed for the first term on Wednesday, March 20. The primary objective of the event was to facilitate interaction between learners and survivors of the massacre while addressing pertinent human rights issues such as domestic violence, bullying, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Majane Nhlapo, Principal of Matsie-Steyn Primary and event coordinator, emphasised the importance of providing learners with a practical understanding of the Sharpeville Massacre, supplementing theoretical learning with dramatisations and poetry recitations.
As part of the event, learners marched from the school to the nearby Greendoor House to deliver dignity packs. Sponsored by the Department of Sport, Art, and Culture and the Rotary Club Riverside, these packs were donated to support victims of domestic violence, GBV, and bullying sheltered at the Greendoor House while the police seek suitable accommodation for them.
Selloane Phethane, the 78-year-old founder of Greendoor House and a survivor of the Sharpeville Massacre, highlighted the urgent need to support victims of abuse and provide them with essential items.
Drawing from her own experiences of domestic abuse, Phethane opened Greendoor House to provide refuge for those in need.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) played a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth execution of the
event, underscoring the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in commemorating this significant day in our nation’s history.
