Sharpeville massacre survivors start legal fight for justice in South Africa

What the report says

Survivors of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre and relatives of those killed are beginning a legal challenge in South Africa that aims to reopen the path to justice for one of the country’s most infamous apartheid-era crimes, BBC Africa reports. The case is expected to be announced on Thursday and centers on the 1961 Indemnity Act, which shielded police and government officials from criminal or civil liability over the shootings.

BBC Africa says at least 69 people were killed when police opened fire on peaceful protesters in Sharpeville, south of Johannesburg, and recent research has suggested the death toll may have been higher. More than 200 people were injured. Survivors interviewed by the BBC described the protest against pass laws, which restricted the movement of Black South Africans, and the fear and chaos when police started shooting. Abraham Mofokeng, now 86, and Larazus Magotsi, now 90, are among those involved.

The case has been brought by Lawyers for Human Rights and the UK firm Leigh Day, which are asking the High Court to declare the indemnity law unconstitutional under South Africa’s post-1994 constitution. The application also seeks class action status, which could allow dozens of survivors and relatives to sue together and potentially seek reparations. Legal experts quoted by the BBC said the case could help remove a long-standing legal barrier and address unfinished business from the apartheid period.

The report places the dispute in the wider context of South Africa’s limited redress for apartheid crimes despite the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The government told the BBC it continues to support victims and does not oppose legal remedies, while the survivors say they still want accountability and recognition after decades without prosecutions.