Opposition parties commemorate the Sharpeville massacre at Philandaba Cemetery

Johnathan Paoli

Opposition parties gathered at the Philandaba Cemetery in Soweto to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre, which led to the deaths of 69 people, including 8 women and 10 children, and wounding 180 people protesting against the pass laws of the Apartheid regime.

Political party leaders attended the commemoration on Thursday morning and included the PAC leadership, Act leader Ace Magashule, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, Azapo leader Nelvis Qekema, and Musi Maimane from BOSA.

The Pan Africanist Congress led the commemoration and said that despite the powerful nature of the tragedy as a turning point in the country’s history, many more remain marginalised when it comes to the realisation of human rights.

The PAC Secretary General Apa Pooe said it was unbelievable that the government has not compensated the victims of the Sharpeville Massacre, and called on the government to probe why this is so.

Pooe