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Aftermath of Sharpeville Massacre - Coggle Diagram
Aftermath of Sharpeville Massacre
International consequences
The massacre fuelled anti-apartheid sentiments as the international conscience was deeply stirred
The United Nations Security Council and governments worldwide condemned the police action and the apartheid policies that prompted this violent assault.
International sympathy lay with the African people
Impact on anti-Apartheid leaders
Robert Sobukwe and other leaders were arrested and detained after the Sharpeville massacre, some for nearly three years after the incident.
Many leaders were arrested during protests at the beginning of the 1960s for leading marches in form of protest against Apartheid
Reaction of the South African government
the government responded by declaring a state of emergency and banning all public meetings.
The Minister of Native Affairs declared that apartheid was a model for the world. The Minister of Justice called for calm and the Minister of Finance encouraged immigration.
The only Minister who showed any misgivings regarding government policy was Paul Sauer. His protest was ignored, and the government turned a blind eye to the increasing protests from industrialists and leaders of commerce.
Consequences for the ANC and PAC
After realising that non-violent protest wouldn't work, and after they were banned due to the Unlawful Organisations Act of 1960, they were pushed underground and decided to create military wings
On 24 March 1960, in protest of the massacre, Regional Secretary General of the PAC, Philip Kgosana, led a march of 101 people from Langa to the police headquarters in Caledon Square, Cape Town. The protesters offered themselves up for arrest for not carrying their passes.
the ANC and the PAC were banned under the Unlawful Organisations Act of 8 April 1960.
Reaction and actions of Black South Africans
Chief Albert Luthuli and Professor Z.K. Matthews called on all South Africans to mark a national day of mourning for the victims on the 28 March.
The African work force in the Cape went on strike for a period of two weeks and mass marches were staged in Durban. In Cape Town, an estimated 95% of the African population and a substantial number of the Coloured community joined the stay away.
Impact on the strategies of the ANC and PAC
The ANC and PAC were forced underground, and both parties launched military wings of their organisations in 1961.