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eventREF E-0086260Revised

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The Soweto Uprising leaves 174 blacks and two whites dead following 10 days of rioting

The Soweto Uprising leaves 174 blacks and two whites dead following 10 days of rioting

Hector Peterson carried by Mbuyisa Makhubu. Photograph by Sam NzimaHector Peterson carried by Image Source: www.csir.co.za

Updated
30 Sep 2019
The Soweto Uprising leaves 174 blacks and two whites dead following 10 days of rioting

Hector Peterson carried by Mbuyisa Makhubu. Photograph by Sam NzimaHector Peterson carried by Image Source: www.csir.co.za

The student-led protests in Soweto in 1976 known as the Soweto Uprising claimed many lives and left many injured. The protests began in Soweto schools and spread across the country. The unrest was a response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction. Black people resented Afrikaans because it was seen as the language of the oppressor. The government’s proposed plan was to compel students to take half of their content subjects like Biology and Mathematics in Afrikaans and the other half in English. Students vehemently refused to be taught in Afrikaans. In just 10 days of rioting, the official death toll was 174 Blacks and two Whites.  The number of wounded was 1,222 Blacks and six Whites. 1,298 were arrested for offences ranging from attending illegal meetings, arson to terrorism and furthering the aims of banned organizations.

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How we know this

  1. 01Boddy-Evans A. 16 June 1976 Student Uprising in Soweto from AboutAfrican History Available at: https://africanhistory.about.com [Accessed on 28 May 2012]
  2. 02Socialism issue 101 June 2006 Today The Soweto uprising 1976 [online] Available at: www.socialismtoday.org [Accessed on 28 May 2012]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, June 20). The Soweto Uprising leaves 174 blacks and two whites dead following 10 days of rioting . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086260

South African History Online (2012) 'The Soweto Uprising leaves 174 blacks and two whites dead following 10 days of rioting ', South African History Online, 20 June. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086260 (Accessed: 5 August 2026).

South African History Online, The Soweto Uprising leaves 174 blacks and two whites dead following 10 days of rioting [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086260, (accessed 5 August 2026).

"The Soweto Uprising leaves 174 blacks and two whites dead following 10 days of rioting ." South African History Online, 20 June 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086260. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "The Soweto Uprising leaves 174 blacks and two whites dead following 10 days of rioting ." South African History Online. June 20, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0086260.

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