New generation in dark about struggle history

NINE out of 10 children had no idea who struggle icon Robert Sobukwe was when asked at the Sharpeville Memorial Centre yesterday.

Sobukwe was the Pan-Africanist Congress leader who led the March 21 1960 anti-pass law protest which resulted in the massacre of 69 people in Sharpeville, in the then Transvaal. The children‚ many of whom were dressed in political party regalia on Human Rights Day, said they had never heard of the stalwart.

Some of them gathered yesterday alongside their parents‚ and watched an exhibition of pictures of the Sharpeville massacre‚ the 2012 Marikana shootings and other violent South African protests.

Art exhibitor Thandolwethu Sepoi’s stand showed black people being chained and assaulted by whites.

He was inspired to display the images when he noted that black children were not being educated about the true origins of oppression.

“Our education system is eurocentric‚” Sepoi said.

It was difficult to celebrate Human Rights Day when many people failed to comprehend that the apartheid government‚ and even some of those in power failed to acknowledge black people as humans, he said.

Last week‚ the DA’s Helen Zille came under fire for comments she made on colonialism.

Sepoi said: “Helen Zille herself is misguided. It’s either that or she believes her lies because colonialism disrupted African development.”

A crowd which had gathered around him expressed agreement.

The Sharpeville memorial was abuzz with activity yesterday to mark the 57th year since the deadly uprising against the pass laws.

Political parties placed wreaths at the memorial site.