On 21 March, South Africans celebrated National Human Rights Day, a national holiday set apart in commemoration of the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960. Also on March 21, the people of Langa and KwaNobuhle townships in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, commemorated the massacre that took place there in 1985, when police shot dead an estimated 36 people and injured others in their efforts to prevent them from attending the funeral of a comrade from KwaNobuhle township.

Some of these survivors are still alive today and live with the injuries inflicted on them 25 years ago on a day that changed their lives forever.

THE Reverend Mpumelelo John Ntshikivana is one of the survivors of that eventful day in Langa township, Uitenhage:

“On the anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre, a large group of residents of Langa township began to march to KwaNobuhle to attend a funeral that had been banned.”

“We had to pass along the outskirts of the white town. We were confronted by 2 large police vehicles and many police officers who ordered us to disperse. We started the march in Maduna road. It was a peaceful march.”

“Then opposite the Methodist church, the South Africa Defence Force and the South African Police Force tried to stop us. We did not want to stop because we were going to the funeral of our fellow comrades at Kwanobuhle. (We were staying at Langa location. I was staying at 14th avenue.)”

“I saw one of the soldiers raise a red flag. That is when the shooting started. We fled and ran but the shooting did not stop. About thirty-six people were shot dead.”

“I, together with others were injured. Some people were taken to hospital and others, including myself, were taken to Dr Mzimba.”

“That time I was working at TELKOM and the injuries made me lose my job. I am unemployed until today.”

“Last year (2009), in November I started getting a disability grant because of my injuries. I will continue to get it every month.”

“My children left school before time because I do not have money to educate them further.”

Part of the TRC Unit’s work is to provide bursaries to children of victims.

When asked about the TRC, Reverend Ntshikivana said:

“I did not go to the TRC because at that time I was very scared.”