Remembering the past and celebrating the future in South Africa on Human Rights Day, a historic public holiday
Human Rights Day is a public holiday that celebrates South Africans unique constitution giving equal rights to all. The date was chosen as a public holiday because of its historical significance, and many events take place on Human Rights Day in South Africa every year.
The specific South African meaning of Human Rights Day is one of great significance..
The Native Laws Amendment Act of 1952 extended Government control over the movement of Africans by issuing an Identification book, which had to be carried at all times by all Africans.
Failure to produce the ID book on demand by the police was a punishable offence. The PAC (Pan Africanist Congress) proposed an anti-Pass campaign to start on 21 March 1960.
All black South African men were to take part in the campaign without their passes and present themselves for arrest.
Campaigners gathered at police stations in the Soweto township near Johannesburg where they were dispersed by police.
At the Sharpeville police station a scuffle broke out, police opened fire (apparently without being given order to do so) wounding 180 and killing 69 people.
In Apartheid South Africa Human Rights Day became known as Sharpeville Day and although not part of the official holidays the event was commemorated among anti-apartheid movements.
After the first free elections in 1994 the Sharpeville Massacre was declared an official public holiday to be known as Human Rights Day.
Molo Says: Although a sad date in South African history, Human Rights Day is now a date of rememberance and we can celebrate our freedom together now, and government often organizes free concerts to celebrate the diverse and changing face of South Africa.
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Learn more about South Africa’s exciting history in our culture and heritage and discover the meaning of all the other important South African Public Holidays.
Molo says: "Every body needs to know this day - it really is something worth celebrating."
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