'Then the firing started': the Soweto uprising remembered 50 years on
16 June 1976 is not just another chapter in the history books, nor is its aftermath and legacy, say those who took part and their families
TL;DR
- The Soweto uprising on June 16, 1976, was a student protest against the mandatory use of Afrikaans in schools.
- The protest, initially peaceful, turned violent when police opened fire on the students.
- The number of casualties remains unconfirmed, with estimates ranging from 23 to over 200.
- The uprising revitalized the anti-apartheid movement and led to thousands of students fleeing South Africa.
- Survivors recount decades of trauma, imprisonment, and the lasting psychological and physical impact of the events.