By African.Pictures
All images are licensable through african.pictures
The spark...
In 1974, the South African Department of Bantu Education issued the Afrikaans Medium Decree, requiring Afrikaans as a medium for specific subjects, including maths and social studies, starting from Standard 5.
Youth at the back of a bus (1976-06-16) by Alf KumaloOriginal Source: Alf Kumalo / african.pictures
Youth at the back of a bus with a cardboard sign saying "Destroy Bantu Education". Under Apartheid, Bantu education already disadvantaged learners before adding the Afrikaans requirement.
Soweto, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa, 1976 (1976-06-16) by ANC ArchivesOriginal Source: ANC Archives / african.pictures
On June 16, 1976 the Soweto Students’ Representative Council’s Action Committee organized a mass, peaceful demonstration to protest this decree and the growing frustration with the oppressive Bantu Education Act of 1953.
June 1976 - Residents scatter as teargas permeates the air (1976-06-16) by Alf KumaloOriginal Source: Alf Kumalo / african.pictures
Police opened fire on the marching students and at least 176 people died.
It led to...exile
Following the Soweto Uprising in South Africa in 1976, thousands of young people arrive in exile unaccompanied by parents or adults. In response, the ANC established two major projects in Tanzania, SOMAFCO at Mazimbu and the ANC Development Centre at Dakawa.
...and further uprising
Within South Africa the events of June 16 ignited a wave of uprisings across the township and accelerated the end of Apartheid by galvanising domestic resistance and triggering massive international condemnation. Here children look on as Khwezi Station, Soweto, goes up in smoke.
June 1976 - Young mourners, enraged by the massacre (1976-06-16) by Alf KumaloOriginal Source: Alf Kumalo / african.pictures
Young mourners, enraged by the massacre of June 16, march at the Doornkop Cemetery in Soweto at the burial of the victims.
After June 1976, the youth played an important role in the liberation struggle (1976-06-16) by Alf KumaloOriginal Source: Alf Kumalo / african.pictures
After June 1976, the youth increasingly played an important role in the liberation struggle. Not to be deterred by anyone or anything, they would fill up buses on their way to funerals and demonstrations. Students hanging out of buses like these were a sign of the times.
The face of an activist portrays the mood of 1976 (1976-06-16) by Alf KumaloOriginal Source: Alf Kumalo / african.pictures
The face of an activist portrays the mood of 1976 as he chokes on his own anger. This picture was taken at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto - a symbol of the resistance, it was an important venue for rallies and other political gatherings during the uprising.
Alf Kumalo, David Goldblatt and ANC Archives. All photos licensable from african.pictures
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