SHARPEVILLE.- Sharpeville residents were left feeling abandoned on Saturday as top African National Congress (ANC) leaders from the Sedibeng region skipped local commemorations to attend a massive party march in Johannesburg instead.
While the rest of the country looked toward Sharpeville to honour the fallen of the 1960 massacre, the ruling party’s bigwigs headed in the opposite direction. The historical event lacked the presence of local mayors and regional ANC heavyweights.
Instead, Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) was represented by Acting Mayor Elias Mokoena, while Matome Chiloane stood in for the Gauteng Premier’s office.
In contrast to the ANC’s absence, leaders from several opposition parties gathered at Phelandaba Cemetery to pay their respects to the 69 people killed by apartheid forces in March 1960. The political parties and leaders in attendance included PAC, the party that originally led the 1960 peaceful protest. Ace Magashule, leader of ACT (African Congress for Transformation), told the crowd, “There is no more ANC.”
Mmusi Maimane, leader of Unite for Change, joined the march to the Sharpeville Massacre Monument. Herman Mashaba, leader of ActionSA, argued the day should be called Sharpeville Day, rather than Human Rights Day.
As expected, the leaders of the opposition political parties had a lot to say about the ruling party (ANC), with Magashule not mincing his words. Despite the lack of regional ANC leadership and heavy rainfall, residents turned out in large numbers.
The main ANC event took place at George Thabe Stadium, where Chiloane addressed the crowd.
The day was marked by various arts, culture, and recreational activities as the community moved from the cemetery to the monument to ensure the 1960 tragedy was properly remembered.
