Question

What was the Sharpeville incident importance in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa?

Answer 1

1. The Sharpeville events greatly aided the South African anti-apartheid movement; they signalled a significant change by exposing the world to the brutality of the apartheid government. 
2. The police shooting of 69 unarmed protestors on 21st March, 1960, sparked international censure and national indignation.
3. Following the massacre, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and the African National Congress (ANC) were outlawed by the South African government, forcing them to switch from nonviolent protest to armed resistance.
4. The event also bolstered international backing for boycotts and sanctions against the apartheid government, fostering closer ties among anti-apartheid organisations.
5. It is still observed as Human Rights Day in South Africa and is a symbol of resistance.