The Security Council begins deliberations on the situation in South Africa

The United Nations Security Council began deliberations on the situation in South Africa, under an agenda item entitled: "The situation arising out of the large-scale killings of unarmed and peaceful demonstrators against racial discrimination and segregation in the Union of South Africa". The move by the Security Council followed the event of 21 March, 1960, where the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) staged an anti-pass demonstration outside Sharpeville police station near Vereeniging. They handed over their passes demanding an end to the pass laws. However, the march ended in tragedy when the police opened fire on the marchers, killing 69 people and injuring close to 200 in what has come to be known as the Sharpeville Massacre.