南非正筹备沙佩维尔大屠杀50周年纪念活动

South Africans are preparing to commemorate¹ the 50th anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre², an iconic moment in the nation's liberation struggle.

南非人正在筹备沙佩维尔大屠杀50周年的纪念活动，该活动是南非解放斗争的标志性事件。

condemnation³" width="226" height="170" src="http://www.enread.com/upimg/100321/4_032024_1.jpg" />
The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre drew worldwide condemnation

Sixty-nine people died on 21 March 1960 when police gunned down（枪杀） unarmed people protesting against apartheid（种族隔离） laws.

The dead will be honoured as part of Human Rights Day, with church services, the laying of wreaths（花环，花圈） , and a speech by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Critics say people in the township（小镇） still face poor living conditions.

Defining moment

The Sharpeville Massacre is remembered as one of the bloodiest⁴ moments of the liberation struggle, the BBC's Karen Allen reports from Johannesburg.

Fifty years ago, South African police gunned down unarmed protesters in Sharpeville township, 50km (30 miles) south of Johannesburg.

Sixty-nine people died and at least 180 were injured - many shot in the back as they were trying to flee the scene.

They had gathered outside the police station to protest against pass laws, which required all blacks to carry identity documents - known as pass books - at all times.

The Sharpeville massacre led to the banning of the African National Congress (ANC非洲民族会议) and its challenger, the Pan African Congress (PAC), and signalled the start of the underground armed resistance movement in South Africa.

Today, many in the township are disappointed that the movement they fought for - now the ruling ANC - has failed to improve their lives, our correspondent says.

Many of the shops in Sharpeville have closed down, unemployment persists and there is a sense among some residents that basic public services are inadequate⁵（不充分的，不适当的） .

In recent weeks the ANC has faced protests from other communities in South Africa, who fear that cronyism⁶（任人唯亲） and corruption⁷ have overshadowed the party's agenda.