History- Soweto Uprising Flashcards
In 1975
The Minister of Bantu Education, M.C. Botha, ordered that African schools must teach half of the subjects in Standards 5 and 6 (grade 7 and 8) in Afrikaans
People opposed because
They beloved that the children’s education would suffer and they saw Afrikaans as the language of the oppressor.
On 16 June 1976
10 000 to 20 000 students marched through the streets of Soweto in protest against the use of Afrikaans in schools.
Police fired on the crowd.
Destination
Orlando Stadium
Morris Isaacson High School
Tsietsie Mashini, the student leader who organized the march, went to this school
Sam Nzima
Took the picture of Hector Pieterson, 13-year-old boy who was believed to have been the first child killed, even though it was illegal and leaked it to ‘World’ newspapers.
Although the uprising was
Eventually crushed by the police, it had important results.
It was the single biggest challenge to the government and the apartheid system.
The government could no longer ignore resistance.
Other issues in Soweto
Low pay
Poor housing
Pass laws
Political repression
Police used
Tear gas
Automatic rifles
Stun guns
Students
Stoned the police to death
Mbuyisa Makhubu
Carried Hector Pieterson
Went into hiding and was reported to be found in Canada
Students later
Burned down all municipal buildings
