Over a thousand people are detained under state of emergency following the Sharpeville massacre

Updated: 21 Jul 2026

On 22 April 1960, about 1,575 people were detained under South Africa's state of emergency that was declared by the South African government on 30 March 1960. The move by the government to declare the state of emergency came nine days after the Sharpeville massacre where nearly 70 people were killed by security police and scores left injured. During the same month the African National Congress (ANC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and other liberation movements were banned by government under the Unlawful Organisations Act.

How we know this

01Boddy-Evans A. ‘This Day in Africa History: 22 April’, in African History, 22 April. South African History Online, ‘State of Emergency follows Sharpeville massacre’, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 16 March 2012]
02Katriena K. ‘Today’s History’, in the Perswildebeest.proboards, 15 April 2008

Last updated · 21 Jul 2026

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, April 18). Over a thousand people are detained under state of emergency following the Sharpeville massacre. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081955

South African History Online (2012) 'Over a thousand people are detained under state of emergency following the Sharpeville massacre', South African History Online, 18 April. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081955 (Accessed: 22 October 2026).

South African History Online, Over a thousand people are detained under state of emergency following the Sharpeville massacre [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081955, (accessed 22 October 2026).

"Over a thousand people are detained under state of emergency following the Sharpeville massacre." South African History Online, 18 Apr. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081955. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Over a thousand people are detained under state of emergency following the Sharpeville massacre." South African History Online. April 18, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081955.