Heritage@Herschel Girls School

Herschel, South Africa and Apartheid 1960’s

The 1960’s saw many a change in South Africa. It would be freed from British rule and become a republic, but the enforcement and brutality of racial segregation and Apartheid would see violence and unrest in the country. This meant that South Africa would become alienated from the rest of the world.

1960 became the year in which Apartheid would become enforced. Due to this thousands of people were forcibly removed to the State created 'homelands." In 1960 the Apartheid policy was enforced on the Claremont area meaning that the blacks and coloured’s that lived there were forced to move away. It is noted that Herschel mainly consisted of “white” girls.

The 1960’s also saw an era of high fashion and glamour. As seen in the photo below of one of the matric dances, the girls’ hair is styled in a beehive like style and their dresses are very typical of the 1960’s. This photograph was taken in 1961.       

Herschel Girls School Matric Dance 1961

This year saw many Apartheid laws take effect. The Unlawful Organisations Act No 34 of 1960 was declared, allowing the Apartheid government in South Africa to declare unlawful any organization deemed to threaten public order. The ANC and PAC are declared unlawful and were immediately banned. It was an occurrence such as this that caused brutal violence to erupt in the country, as people felt that they were being treated unfairly; an example being the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 where 69 people were shot dead because of a protest and an underestimation by police.

 

Sharpeville Massacre 1960, 69 people lie dead on the streets due to being shot by police.

However not all the events during the 1960’s were violent. On the 15^th April 1961, South Africa had much to celebrate as it became free from British control, and became a republic. This event would probably see education changed around the country, as schools would no longer have to teach according to Britain or British ways. The achievement of the republic had been one of the National Party’s long-term goals since coming to power in 1948. 

However, celebration would soon turn to horror as Dr Verwoerd, the prime minister of South Africa, was very near assassinated by a bullet. He miraculously survived this attempt,   but sadly in 1966 another attempt would succeed in Cape Town. He was stabbed in the neck and chest four times by a uniformed parliamentary messenger named Dimitri Tsafendas

Dr Hendrik Verwoerd 1901-1966, Prime Minister of South Africa. Stabbed September 6th 1966

 

The 1960’s did see many a change in South Africa. Being freed from British rule and becoming a republic, but the enforcement and brutality of racial segregation and Apartheid did see violence and unrest in the country.

Reference List

Unknown Author. Claremont, Cape Town. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claremont,_Cape_Town
1961. Cape Times. Pg1. April 15th
1960. Cape Argus. Pg1. March 21st
1966. Cape Times. Pg1. September 6th