Meaning Of Soweto

2. Meaning Of Soweto • A city of northeast South Africa was the scene of violent rioting in 1976, when a student protest led to clashes with police.

3. Cause • In 1976, students in the town of Soweto rose up against apartheid in South Africa. Police killed hundreds. • The problem in Soweto started because the government wanted black students to be taught Afrikaans but their native language was English. (Called Bantu Education)

4. Problem • This was a problem for the students because they felt that Afrikaans was the language whites. • Some other problems were overcrowding, high drop out rates in schools, the racist curriculum and poorly maintained facilities

5. Rights Denied • Denied access to jobs • Black students received inferior education. • The government spent 15 times more on the education of a white child than on the education of a Black child. • Quote from law • “Natives must be taught at an early age that equality with the Europeans is not for them.”

6. Why They Rebelled • The children were • tired of apartheid policies, • tired of seeing their parents oppressed by the government • tired of being denied their freedom, • they had nothing to lose…. • The morning of June 16, 1976 the students took action.

7. The Results • Official reports claimed that 700 children died over the course of the year that the student uprisings occurred • South Africa now recognizes June 16 as “Youth Day” in honor of the victims of that massacre.