Vincent Thamae, a resident of Sharpeville, vividly recalls his grandfather recounting the tragic events of the Sharpeville massacre. This dark chapter in history unfolded on March 21, 1960, when apartheid police ruthlessly opened fire on peaceful demonstrators in a township near Johannesburg, resulting in the deaths of numerous individuals, including men, women, and children.
Thamae, now actively involved with Voices of Sharpeville, has been diligently gathering testimonies from survivors and families affected by the massacre since 2018. Serving as a liaison between the survivors and a legal team, he is assisting in initiating a class-action lawsuit against the South African government. The lawsuit aims to secure compensation for victims and their descendants while challenging an apartheid-era law that shields government officials from accountability for the massacre.
The protests in Sharpeville were in opposition to apartheid pass laws that restricted movement and enforced racial segregation. Official police reports state that 69 people perished and 180 sustained injuries, although research referenced by the plaintiffs suggests higher casualties, with 91 fatalities and over 238 wounded.
One survivor, 87-year-old Abram Mofokeng, who was shot during the massacre, still carries a bullet lodged in his back. Reflecting on the tragic events, Mofokeng emphasizes the enduring impact of the massacre on his life and the community, stating, “It is not possible to forget what happened in 1960.”
Mofokeng, alongside two other Sharpeville residents, Paulina Mathinye and Ishmael Poho, are representing a broader group in the lawsuit led by Lawyers for Human Rights. Over 70 survivors and relatives have expressed their support for or interest in participating in the legal action.
Despite previous attempts to seek compensation following the massacre, the government’s implementation of the Indemnity Act in 1961 shielded officials from legal repercussions and halted the claims process. The legal team for the plaintiffs is advocating for the repeal of this law, citing violations of their clients’ constitutional rights and the need for justice beyond the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s limited reparations.
Dan Leader, a partner at Leigh Day, a British human rights law firm supporting the case, views this legal battle as a pivotal moment for South Africa to address its past injustices. If successful in overturning the Indemnity Act, the plaintiffs can pursue claims for damages, which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis with expert guidance.
Thamae, affiliated with the Pan Africanist Congress, envisions reparations extending beyond financial compensation to include broader benefits such as educational opportunities for the plaintiffs’ descendants. He underscores the lasting repercussions of land dispossession by the apartheid regime, which has hindered the economic participation of Sharpeville residents for generations.
The process of collecting stories from survivors and descendants has been emotionally taxing for Thamae, reopening deep wounds that continue to haunt the community. The quest for justice and closure remains an ongoing struggle as the survivors grapple with the atrocities committed during the Sharpeville massacre.