On 16 June 1976 young people began an uprising in Soweto that spread countrywide and profoundly changed the socio-political landscape in South Africa. When Afrikaans and English, was made compulsory as medium of instruction in all schools in 1974, black students began mobilizing and on 16 June 1976 between thousands of students marched peacefully to demonstrate and protest against the government’s language directive.
While making their way to the Orlando stadium young people were met by heavily armed police. The police fired tear gas and later live ammunition at the demonstrating students.
The result was chaos but the protest later fuelled the liberation movement and the struggle against apartheid.
