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The Sharpeville massacre

In March 1960, South African police shot dead 69 black protestors, sparking worldwide outrage

In March 1960, the South African police opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators in the township of Sharpeville, killing 69 people and injuring nearly 200 more. The massacre outraged black South Africans, leading to a radicalisation of anti-apartheid organisations such as the ANC and a ruthless crackdown on dissent by the whites-only government. Simon Watts hears the memories of Nyakane Tsolo, who organised the demonstration in Sharpeville, and Ian Berry, a photographer whose pictures of the killings caused an international outcry.

PHOTO: The crowd fleeing from the police at Sharpeville in 1960 (Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

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9 minutes

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  • Thu 4 Mar 2021 08:50GMT
  • Thu 4 Mar 2021 12:50GMT
  • Thu 4 Mar 2021 18:50GMT
  • Thu 4 Mar 2021 23:50GMT
  • Fri 5 Mar 2021 03:50GMT

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