In April 1959 , Africanists dissatisfied with the ANC 's united front approach founded the Pan-Africanist Congress ( PAC ) ; Mandela disagreed with the PAC 's racially exclusionary views , describing them as " immature " and " naïve " . Both parties took part in an anti-pass campaign in early 1960 , in which Africans burned the passes that they were legally obliged to carry . One of the PAC-organised demonstrations was fired upon by police , resulting in the deaths of 69 protesters in the Sharpeville massacre . The incident brought international condemnation of the government and resulted in rioting throughout South Africa , with Mandela publicly burning his pass in solidarity
Sharpeville massacre
Sharpeville massacre
Nelson Mandela