The Gauteng Government is set to host a significant Human Rights Day commemoration in Sharpeville, where two sites linked to the infamous 1960 Sharpeville Massacre have recently received UNESCO World Heritage status.
The commemoration on Friday, March 21, will take on special significance this year as it marks the first Human Rights Day since the Sharpeville Memorial Monument and the 69 graves of the massacre victims at Phelindaba Cemetery were added to UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage list.
These historic sites were included as part of a collection of 14 locations associated with the Nelson Mandela Legacy Memorial program, receiving the highest level of heritage protection available worldwide.
Three-Phase Commemoration
The day’s events will follow a three-phase structure, beginning with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at Phelindaba Cemetery where the 69 victims of the 1960 massacre are buried.
Officials will then proceed to a second wreath-laying at the Sharpeville Memorial, located at the site of the original massacre.
The commemoration will culminate in a formal program at the George Thabe Stadium Cricket Pitch in Sharpeville, where the Gauteng Premier is expected to deliver an address marking the occasion.
UNESCO Recognition
Representatives from the National Heritage Council of South Africa and the South African Heritage Resources Agency will be in attendance to officially commemorate the sites’ new status. This recognition places the Sharpeville sites among the world’s most protected cultural and historical landmarks.
The UNESCO designation acknowledges the profound historical significance of the Sharpeville Massacre, which occurred on March 21, 1960, when police opened fire on peaceful demonstrators protesting against apartheid pass laws.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
In the aftermath of the massacre, the United Nations declared March 21 as the “International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination” to support South Africa’s pursuit of non-racialism and equality for all.
The elevation of these sites to World Heritage status serves as a powerful reminder of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid and the ongoing global fight against racial discrimination.
This year’s commemoration not only honors the victims of the Sharpeville Massacre but also celebrates the progress made in human rights while acknowledging the work that remains to be done in achieving true equality.
