I went to Sharpeville this past weekend to understand why survivors of the 1960 massacre and the families of those killed are going to court 66 years later.
We know the story of Sharpeville.
On 21 March 1960, police opened fire on people protesting against apartheid’s pass laws. At least 69 people were killed and many more were injured.
Every year, politicians visit Sharpeville. They make speeches, lay wreaths and commemorate Human Rights Day.
But the people I met are still waiting for justice.
Paulina Mathinye was five years old when her father left home to attend the gathering. He never returned.
His death changed the course of her family’s life. Her mother had to raise five children alone. They sometimes went to bed hungry and Paulina could not pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.
Now, Paulina and other families are supporting legal action against the South African government.
At the centre of the case is the Indemnity Act of 1961. The apartheid government used this law to prevent victims and families from pursuing civil or criminal claims linked to the massacre. Lawyers for Human Rights say the law has never been repealed.
The families want the court to declare it unconstitutional and allow a class action to proceed.
But this story is about more than compensation.
It is about acknowledgement. It is about dignity. And it is about why the democratic government allowed these families to wait for more than three decades.
In this episode of Let’s Debrief, we return to Sharpeville, speak to the people who have carried this loss for most of their lives and explain why they are finally going to court.
Watch: This is why Sharpeville victims are going to court in 2026
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