Soweto Uprising

The Soweto Uprising began on 16 June, 1976 in the Soweto townships of Johannesburg when South African police fired on a demonstration of unarmed schoolchildren who were protesting at being taught in Afrikaans, a language they associated with the opression of apartheid.

Related Topics:
16 June - 1976 - Soweto - Johannesburg - South African - Afrikaans - Apartheid

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The pictures of dead and dying children shocked the world, but of historic greater significance was the wave of rage that swept young black people in South Africa itself. The liberation movement, led by the African National Congress, although at a low ebb following the supression of its leadership at the Rivonia Trial in the 1960s, had been slowly building strength inside South Africa and it was the ANC that provided a political focus to the wave of uprising that swept the country, their leaflets declaring "Hang Voster, free Mandela".

Related Topics:
African National Congress - Rivonia Trial - Voster - Mandela

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Many young black people left South Africa seeking a means to strike back against the apartheid government and the ANC, as opposed to the rival Pan Africanist Congress, emerged as the key focus, training a new generation of military cadre for its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe.

Related Topics:
Pan Africanist Congress - Cadre - Umkhonto we Sizwe

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For more details see the History of South Africa article.

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