HISTORY GRADE 9: SOWETO UPRISING
The Soweto Uprising was a pivotal event in the fight against
apartheid in South Africa. It started in 1975 when it was decreed
that half of the subjects taught in schools should be in Afrikaans, a
language that was associated with the oppressive white minority
regime. This decision sparked outrage and protests amongst black
students.
In February 1976, two members of the Meadowlands School Board
were fired for failing to use Afrikaans in schools. This led to the
resignation of the other seven members of the Board in protest.
Tensions escalated when learners clashed with the principal at
Molofo Secondary School, and a class boycott erupted at Orlando
Junior Secondary School. These events set the stage for what
would become one of the largest uprisings in the history of South
Africa.
On June 16, 1976, hundreds of students gathered at various
assembly points in Soweto to protest against the use of Afrikaans in
schools. These protests were met with violence from the police,
who threw tear gas canisters into the crowd and fired shots. Despite
the brutal response, the students remained resilient and continued
to fight for their rights.
The uprising not only spread to other parts of South Africa but also
gained international attention, forcing the apartheid government to
take notice. The unrest continued in the following years, with
clashes between protesters and the police, mass detentions, and
even learners leaving the country to join the armed resistance
movement, the MK.
Although calm was eventually restored in Soweto by the police and
military, the Soweto Uprising marked a turning point in the struggle
against apartheid. It brought attention to the plight of black students
and the oppressive nature of the apartheid regime. The students'
bravery and determination laid the foundation for future resistance
and ultimately contributed to the dismantling of apartheid in South
Africa.
