Forty years have passed since June 16, 1976, turned into a bloody day for young
students of Soweto. It all began during 1975 when the Regional Director of
Bantu Education called for the practice of Afrikaans language in schools for
certain subjects, including mathematics. A call for natural indigenous
languages to be used for music, social lessons and religion that was
unacceptable the students believed.
It was a time when there was the worldwide growth of resentment toward the South
African apartheid system, the increase of 'black power' in the USA, and the impact
of colonialism in Africa caused the system to show visible signs of weakening
in the early 1970's. The black students, in particular, associated Afrikaans
with Apartheid, and as English was a prominent language worldwide, they
preferred English with a native African language
as the official languages. This compelling instruction remained widely
criticized, and teachers at that time
raised concerns and said Afrikaans would discourage
critical thinking.
It
was during April 1976 that the students of Orland West Junior School went on
strike and refused to go to school over the resentment of the Afrikaans
language. Soon the rebellious students action began to impact on other schools who started
to join the protest. The students demanded to be
taught in English and said that they deserved to be taught equally to
white children. Secret meetings and plans to have their voice be heard by the oppressive apartheid government took
place during the following months. June 16, was the date set for a peaceful march to demonstrate the unity
and power for change.
On June 16, 1976,
an estimated 20 000 black students took to the streets and marched toward
Orlando Stadium to protest against the use of the Afrikaans language in local schools.
The police had barricaded the roads, and the students advanced along another
route. Several teachers marching alongside the children told them not to annoy
the cops, and the students continued to
wave placards as they walked to their destination. Waving banners with slogans
such as "down with Afrikaans", and Vivi
Azania", and the classic one, "if we must do Afrikaans, Voster must
do Zulu".
It was supposed to be a peaceful protest, but the
agitation of the students became evident when they began to throw stones at the
police officers. A warning shot was fired by the
police and that caused the students to panic. Screaming children started to run,
and more stones were thrown in the
direction of the police. Police dogs were let loose in an attempt to control the
rioting, but the students stoned the dogs
to death. The police fired more shots as the situation worsened and lives were placed in danger. Yes, the police fired shots at the children and the first child to
die in the uprising was 13-year-old Hector Pieterson. It is his death that became the symbol of the Soweto uprising where
176 students lost their lives.
It was a day that turned into a war zone, between
angered students and the police. A day when hospitals could not cope with the
wounded and bloodied people. A day when the apartheid government set up emergency
clinics to assist with the devastation of an unfortunate event. Nobody remembers the selfless acts of kindness.
The chilling events of June 16, 1975, heightened the separation between the
internal and external conflicts of South Africa. A turning point for the South
African Government to transform the apartheid system and yield to international
pressure.
What is forgotten is how many white South Africans condemned
the action and staged marches through the City of Johannesburg protesting the
killing of the children. The country was fuming,
and riots broke out in townships causing an escalation of the conflict.
International condemnation of
these acts caused the country to be viewed negatively around the world. The
internal chaos triggered the currency devaluation and plunged the government
into a crisis. Drastic measures to
remedy this misery and economic instability became a curse for the state.
The black resistance grew, and the government could not restore peace and
social stability of the early 1970's.
The ANC continued
their fight for freedom printed and distributed leaflets with the slogan
"Free Mandela, Hang Voster".
The ANC established a leading role in the
struggle for
democracy. The ANC requested the world to take
action and impose sanctions against the apartheid regime.
The radical rise of political
instability to the apartheid system and the strengthening international boycott
since the uprising in Soweto became a reality for the government when their
attempts to rectify the injustices failed. The 1970’s and 1980’s claimed the lives of
innocent people around the country. The ANC terrorist group and the Apartheid government
used horrifying methods in the fight for freedom.
We tend to forget the innocent
people who died and the severely wounded ones, from the actions of both regimes
fighting for control. The ANC took responsibility for several bomb blasts
around the country during this time where both white and black people lost
their lives. We remember the students but are inclined to forget the others who
died just as violently as they did.
After his release from prison
in 1990, Nelson Mandela said he acknowledged the debt owed by all black South
Africans to students who lost their lives on June 16, 1976. No
reference was uttered of the white,
colored or Indian people who died during
this dramatic turning point for freedom of
South Africa.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu referred to Afrikaans as the language
of the oppressor. Forty years have passed,
and Afrikaans is still in use, and the
born-free students continue to protest by burning down schools, universities
and destroying property. What has changed since the Soweto uprising, especially
for students? Education is no better now,
and protests are the norm. South Africa, the apartheid system was wrong, as so
is being ruled by a government that keeps people oppressed.
