The police opened fire, apparently without having been given a prior order to do so. Part of a wire fence was trampled, allowing the crowd to move forward. At the Sharpeville police station a scuffle broke out. All African men were to take part in the campaign without their passes and present themselves for arrest.Ĭampaigners gathered at police stations in townships near Johannesburg where they were dispersed by police. The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) proposed an anti-Pass campaign to start on 21 March 1960. The Native Laws Amendment Act of 1952 extended Government control over the movement of Africans to urban areas and abolished the use of the Pass Book (a document which Africans were required to carry on them to 'prove' that they were allowed to enter a 'white area') in favour of a reference book which had to be carried at all times by all Africans.įailure to produce the reference book on demand by the police, was a punishable offence.
The SAHRC was launched on 21 March 1996, 35 years after the fateful events of 21 March 1960 when demonstrators in Sharpeville were gunned down by police. The aim of the Commission is to promote respect for human rights, promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights, and to monitor and assess the observance of human rights in SA. The Constitution provides for the establishment of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution is the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. **The Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994 ) determines whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following on it shall be a public holiday.ġ7 June: Public holiday Youth Day observed ** 2023Ģ January: Public holiday New Year's Day observed **Ģ5 September: Public holiday Heritage Day observed **
**The Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994 ) determines whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following on it shall be a public holiday. That varies each year but they fall at some point between late March and late April. * The dates on which Good Friday and Easter Sunday fall are determined according to the ecclesiastical moon. 2022 2023 2024Ģ May: Public holiday Workers' Day observed ** The Act determines whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following on it shall be a public holiday. South Africa has 12 public holidays as determined by the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994).
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