Key facts
- Survivors of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre are suing the South African government.
- The legal action aims to overturn a 1961 indemnity law that prevents prosecution of perpetrators.
- At least 91 people were killed and 238 injured during the massacre.
- Claimants argue the indemnity law is unconstitutional.
- The case seeks compensation for victims and their families.
Survivors and relatives of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre have initiated legal action against the South African government, seeking to overturn a 1961 indemnity law that has shielded perpetrators from prosecution. The massacre occurred on March 21, 1960, when police opened fire on a peaceful protest against the apartheid pass laws, resulting in at least 91 deaths and 238 injuries.
Abraham Mofokeng, an 86-year-old survivor who was shot in the foot and back during the protest, is one of three claimants filing a case that could lead to dozens more claims. The legal team argues that the indemnity law, passed in response to compensation claims and made effective retrospectively, is unconstitutional under South Africa's current legal framework.
Claimants are seeking approximately 500,000 rand (£23,000) in compensation. Mofokeng, who still lives in Sharpeville, noted his ongoing struggles and health issues, highlighting the inadequacy of a previous one-off payment awarded after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) concluded in 2003. The TRC had recommended annual reparations payments, which were not fully implemented.
Paulina Mathinye, whose father was killed in the massacre when she was five, also hopes for compensation to address the loss and economic hardship her family endured. She noted that her father's death prevented her from pursuing higher education, forcing her to work at a young age.
Vincent Thamae, a PAC member supporting the victims, stated that compensation for Sharpeville survivors should encompass not only financial redress but also address historical injustices related to land dispossession and economic exclusion.