Be our special guest and enjoy this fun-filled day with us!
This year June 16 commemoration will take place while soccer fans from around the globe, will be gathering in the country to witness the 2010 FIFA World Cup games which are currently under-way in different stadiums in the country.
The month of June is known as the Youth Month where South Africa commemorates the Soweto Youth uprising. In June 1976 thousands of pupils from Soweto schools began a protest after a directive from the then Bantu Education Department that Afrikaans had to be used on an equal basis with English as a language of instruction in secondary schools.
This year marks the 24th anniversary of the protest where students had conflicts with the police and hundreds of people, including students were killed.
According to the June 16 1976 Foundation, about 23 students were killed that day. News of the senseless killing of the students sparked retaliatory action from residents in the township, and the foundation quotes a figure of about 200 people who died that day.
If you walk along the streets of Orlando East in Maseko street, you will see Hector Pieterson’s monument and Museum. Hector was among the protesting youth who became a victims of the 1976 uprising. The monument has been built at the exact place where he was murdered and it has become a world tourist attraction. The monument marks the bloodshed for those who fought against Bantu Education.
They fought a battle risking their lives not knowing if they will live up to see their victory. As part of the celebrations that will be held in different provinces, the youth of the UCKG (Universal Church of the Kingdom of God) in Gauteng will be gathering at the Cathedral of Faith in Diepkloof Soweto to commemorate June 16 – the day that made the youth to stand for freedom, fight for what they believe in and develop through education.
Article by Nomsa Masengemu