What happened in the Soweto massacre?
What happened in the Soweto massacre?
Students from numerous Sowetan schools began to protest in the streets of Soweto in response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools. 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.
What caused the Soweto massacre?
uprising in Soweto massive uprising known as the Soweto Rebellion, which began as a protest against the government’s insistence that the Afrikaans language be used as the medium of instruction in Soweto’s high schools.
Why were the Soweto riots so significant?
The June 16 1976 Uprising that began in Soweto and spread countrywide profoundly changed the socio-political landscape in South Africa. Events that triggered the uprising can be traced back to policies of the Apartheid government that resulted in the introduction of the Bantu Education Act in 1953.
What does Soweto stand for?
Soweto, urban complex in Gauteng province, South Africa. Originally set aside by the South African white government for residence by Blacks, it adjoins the city of Johannesburg on the southwest; its name is an acronym derived from South-Western Townships.
Why was Soweto uprising a turning point in the history of South Africa?
16 June 1976 was a major turning point in South African history. The protests by Soweto school children on that day marked the end of submissiveness on the part of the black population of South Africa and the beginning of a new militancy in the struggle against apartheid.
What really happened in June 16?
High school student-led protests in South Africa began on the morning of June 16, 1976 in response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools. Known as the Soweto uprising, an estimated 20,000 students took part in the protests.
What happened on the 13th of June 1976?
On 13th June 1976, about 500 Soweto students met at the Orlando Donaldson Community Hall to discuss ways and means of confronting and challenging the Department of Bantu Education. At the time that the peaceful protest march was agreed upon, Mashinini was the president of Soweto Students Representative Council (SSRC).
How did the government react to the Soweto uprising?
The government reacted with drastic repression including additional security legislation and the detention of activists without trial. Steve Biko died in custody in 1977 and 17 black organizations were banned. About 4 000 black youths fled the country, giving MK* a boost in the number of guerilla trainees in ANC camps.
