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Youth Day in South Africa marks the anniversary of the Soweto Uprising.
The Soweto Uprising, also known as the Soweto Rebellion, was a series of protests led by black South African students on June 16, 1976, in the township of Soweto, located in the southwestern part of Johannesburg, South Africa. The uprising was a turning point in the country's struggle against apartheid, a system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government from 1948 to 1994.
The uprising began as a protest against implementing the Bantu Education Act of 1953, which promoted racial segregation in the education system and reinforced the inferior quality of education for black students. The immediate trigger for the protests was the government's decision to enforce the use of Afrikaans, along with English, as the medium of instruction in African schools. Many black South Africans viewed Afrikaans as the oppressor's language to marginalize their culture and identity further.
On June 16, 1976, an estimated 20,000 students took to the streets in a peaceful protest, marching toward the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. The police responded with tear gas and live ammunition, leading to widespread violence and chaos. An estimated 176 people were killed, with some sources suggesting the death toll may have been as high as 700. Many more were injured, and thousands were arrested.
The Soweto Uprising sparked protests and unrest throughout South Africa, drawing international attention to the apartheid regime and its oppressive policies and creating a pivotal moment in the country's fight against apartheid. The events of June 16 are commemorated annually as Youth Day, a public holiday in South Africa.
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