The June 16th protests of 1976 South Africa
...the evil of racism
Growing up in Botswana, without fail, we would commemorate June 16th every single year. So it seems fitting on this day, in this current climate to be reflecting on the June 16th protests of 1976 in South Africa. And the evil of racism. Of course as a child I went through the motions because my teachers told me to (we commemorated in school). But now as an adult in the wake of George Floyd's murder, I can't but think about it. It strikes me as odd that the international community protesting against racism haven't really spoken about this much today. But I am not surprised. When it comes to this world, it's like, what happens in Africa stays in Africa. But anyway. Today is about reflecting on June 16th and the evil of racism. And honouring the memory of the brave young children who chose to protest.
So what are the June 16th protests of 1976 South Africa?
The apartheid government had unilaterally decided to make Afrikaans a compulsory language of tuition in black schools. In what is known as the Soweto Uprising, students in local schools decided to protest against this new introduction. The plan was for the students to march to a local stadium in protest. But, "police blocked their way. A standoff followed. Stones began to fly. Teargas filled the air. Then the shooting started" (( https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/16/soweto-uprising-40-years-on-hector-pieterson-image-shocked-the-world)). So the police were firing guns at unarmed students.
"It is estimated that when the police and the army responded to the demonstrators by firing tear gas and then bullets, between 400 and 700 people, many of them children, were killed" ((https://www.britannica.com/story/the-soweto-uprising)). Please note that at the time, the government of South Africa was a white minority called apartheid. "Apartheid (“apartness” in the language of Afrikaans) was a system of legislation that upheld segregationist policies against non-white citizens of South Africa" (( https://www.history.com/topics/africa/apartheid)). And also, apartheid didn't end until 27 April 1994. That is four days after I was born.
The significance of June 16th
June 16th is known as the Day of the African child. This day celebrates the beauty of being an African child. But it does not neglect the difficulty of being such, an African child. I could go into more details about this, as an African child, but that's a topic for another day. I commemorate this day because the South African students really fought for all African children. That's because a lot of the policies that were being enforced in South Africa were being pushed into other countries such as Botswana. Although they failed to gain any ground in my country, it was not for lack of trying.
Something to bare in mind
Did you know? ANC leader Nelson Mandela, released from prison in February 1990, worked closely with President F.W. de Klerk's government to draw up a new constitution for South Africa. After both sides made concessions, they reached agreement in 1993, and would share the Nobel Peace Prize that year for their efforts.
from https://www.history.com/topics/africa/apartheid
There is power in unity. The fight against racism is one that can only be won when both sides acknowledge the problem. And work together to solve the problem. This is something we can learn from studying the history of South Africa.
A film to watch of the June 16th protests of 1976 South Africa
Thanks so much for reading this short blog on The June 16th protests of 1976 South Africa.
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