What was the Soweto Uprising?
Q: What was the Soweto Uprising?
A: The Soweto Uprising was a series of protests led by high school students in South Africa against the introduction of Afrikaans as the official language in education while neglecting their first languages.
Q: When did the Soweto Uprising begin?
A: The Soweto Uprising began on the morning of 16 June 1976.
Q: How many students participated in the protests?
A: It is estimated that 20,000 students took part in the protests.
Q: Why did the students protest?
A: The students protested because Afrikaans had been introduced as the language of teaching in local schools.
Q: How did the police respond to the protests?
A: The police responded by killing many of the protesters.
Q: How many people were killed in the Soweto Uprising?
A: The number of people killed in the uprising is usually given as 176, but estimates of up to 700 have been made.
Q: How is the Soweto Uprising remembered in South Africa today?
A: In remembrance of these events, 16 June is now a public holiday in South Africa, named Youth Day.
