South Africa marks 1960 massacre

Pretoria, 21 March-(ANA)-South Africans have marked the 50th anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre, a turning point in the nation's liberation struggle.

Sixty-nine people died on 21 March 1960 when police gunned down unarmed people protesting against apartheid laws.

The dead were honoured as part of Human Rights Day, with church services, the laying of wreaths, and a speech by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Critics say people in the township still face poor living conditions.

People gathered at the Roman Catholic church in Sharpeville, and laid wreaths at the cemetery on the graves of those killed in the massacre.

Mr Motlanthe spoke to survivors and relatives of the victims at the Garden of Remembrance.

Later addressing a crowd of about 5,000, he said: "We say never, never and never again will a government arrogate itself powers of torture, arbitrary imprisonment of opponents and the killing of demonstrators."

"In the same breath, we state that our democratic government undertakes to never ignore the plight of the poor, those without shelter, those without means to an education and those suffering from abuse and neglect," he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.

Fifty years ago, South African police opened fire on demonstrators in Sharpeville township, 50km (30 miles) south of Johannesburg.

Sixty-nine people died and at least 180 were injured - many shot in the back as they were trying to flee the scene.

They had gathered outside the police station to protest against pass laws, which required all blacks to carry identity documents - known as pass books - at all times.

No police were ever convicted over the killings.

The Sharpeville massacre led to the banning of the African National Congress (ANC) and its rival liberation movement, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and signalled the start of the underground armed resistance in South Africa.

Today, many in the township are disappointed that the ANC has failed to improve their lives since it came to power, our correspondent says.

Many of the shops in Sharpeville have closed down, unemployment persists and there is a sense among some residents that basic public services are inadequate.(ANA)

FA/ANA/21 March 2010-----