As both the PAC and the ANC struggled with the limitations of peaceful protests and police became increasingly nervous with greater responsibilities, a political boiling pot had begun to simmer. Gerhart contends that competition between the now rival anti-apartheid groups was steadily growing, which contributed to the rushed planning of events and relative level of disorganisation. Ross argues that these organisations also underestimated the ruthlessness of the police state mentality that was being hardened across South Africa. However, as Gerhart cites, Sobukwe wrote to the commissioner of police, Major General Rademeyer, assuring him of a peaceful protest and declared that crowds would disperse if given adequate warning and acknowledged the threat of ‘trigger happy, African hating’ …show more content…
The international condemnation and outcry marked a decisive turning point, whereby the global community began to actively speak out against the apartheid state. The New York Times adequately reflected international outrage at the shootings in an editorial the following day. It stated that ‘a policy which degrades the great majority of the people of a nation is certain to lead to tragedy...Do the South Africans think that the rest of the world will ignore such a massacre?’ Countries from across the world expressed disapproval of the events and of apartheid more broadly. Landsberg notes that strong counter reactions internationally included the establishment of the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid as well as the adoption of resolutions 134 of 1960 at the United Nations, deploring the South African government and its actions. The United States called the massacre ‘regrettable’ and a violation of the United Nations Charter on human rights. As previously discussed, another long term effect of the massacre was South Africa eventually becoming a republic after condemnation from Britain. The Sharpeville massacre drew international attention and criticism to the repressive and violent regime that existed in South Africa. This proved to be the first of many international political steps to end apartheid, thus cementing the massacre’s place as a