Soweto uprising
| Soweto uprising | |
|---|---|
| Part of apartheid | |
Hector Pieterson carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo after being shot by the South African Police. His sister, Antoinette Sithole, runs beside them. Pieterson was rushed to a local clinic, where he was declared dead on arrival. This photo by Sam Nzima became an icon of the Soweto uprising. | |
| Location | Soweto, South Africa |
| Date | 16–18 June 1976 |
| Deaths | Minimum of 176[1] with some estimates ranging up to 600[2] |
| Injured | 1,000+ |
| Victims | Students |
| Assailants | South African Police |
| Part of a series on |
| Apartheid |
|---|
|
The Soweto uprising, also known as the Soweto riots or the Soweto rebellion, was a series of demonstrations and protests led by black school children in South Africa during apartheid that began on the morning of 16 June 1976.[3]
Students from various schools began to protest in the streets of the Soweto township in response to the introduction of Afrikaans, considered by many black South Africans as the "language of the oppressor", as the medium of instruction in black schools.[4] It is estimated that 20,000 students took part in the protests. They were met with fierce police brutality, and many were shot and killed. The number of pupils killed in the uprising is usually estimated as 176,[1] but some sources estimate as many as 600 killed.[2] The riots were a key moment in the fight against apartheid as it sparked renewed opposition against apartheid in South Africa both domestically and internationally. In remembrance of these events, 16 June is a public holiday in South Africa, named Youth Day. Internationally, 16 June is known as The Day of the African Child (DAC).[5][6]
- ^ a b Cummings, Basia (30 May 2016). "The Soweto uprising: share your experiences, pictures and perspectives". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ a b Harrison, David (1987). The White Tribe of Africa. p. 143.
- ^ "The birth and death of apartheid". Retrieved 17 June 2002.
- ^ "The Youth Struggle". South African History Online.
- ^ "About Day of the African Child | ACERWC - African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child". www.acerwc.africa. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "The Day of the African Child demonstrates the importance of defending children's rights in the digital space". www.unicef.org. Retrieved 21 August 2023.