The June 16, 1976 Uprising that began in Soweto and spread countrywide profoundly changed the socio-polical landscape in South Africa. Events that
triggered the uprising can be traced back to policies of the Apartheid government that resulted in the introducon of the Bantu Educaon Act in 1953.
The rise of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) and the formaon of South African Students Organisaon (SASO) raised the polical consciousness
of many students while others joined the wave of an-Apartheid senment within the student community. When the language of Afrikaans alongside English
was made compulsory as a medium of instrucon in schools in 1974, black students began mobilizing themselves. On 16 June 1976 between 3000 and 10 000
students mobilized by the South African Students Movement’s Acon Commiee supported by the BCM marched peacefully to demonstrate and protest
against the government’s direcve. The march was meant to culminate at a rally in Orlando Stadium.
On their pathway they were met by heavily armed police who fired teargas and later live ammunion on demonstrang students. This resulted in a
widespread revolt that turned into an uprising against the government. While the uprising began in Soweto, it spread across the country and carried on
unl the following year.
The aermath of the events of June 16, 1976 had dire consequences for the Apartheid government. Images of the police firing on peacefully demonstrang
students led an internaonal revulsion against South Africa as its brutality was exposed. Meanwhile, the weakened and exiled liberaon movements received
new recruits fleeing polical persecuon at home giving impetus to the struggle against Apartheid.