Justice Minister leads anti-racism programme

AS SOUTH Africa approaches the 66th anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has called on South Africans to protect the country's Constitution and all the freedoms that were won since 1994.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

On Sunday, the minister led this year's Anti-Racism Programme in collaboration with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, held at the Sharpeville Human Rights Precinct in the Vaal.

This commemorative event aims to honour the memory of the 69 lives lost during the anti-pass laws protest on March 21, 1960, while simultaneously calling for an end to all forms of racism and prejudice that continue to disrupt the social fabric of the nation.

On March 21, 1960, the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), a splinter group of the ANC, spearheaded the nationwide demonstration against repressive pass laws. On that fateful day, over 20,000 activists gathered in defiance, prompting a tragic response from police, who opened fire, resulting in 69 deaths and more than 180 injuries, including women and children.