The Role of Apartheid in South Africa

The Role of Apartheid in South Africa

Soweto Riots in South Africa. This explains how Apartheid was

responsible for starting the Rioting and how even after they tried to

stop the Riots they were unsuccessful.

The Soweto riots of 1976 were the most brutal and violent riots that

had taken place against the South African apartheid administration. It

was also amazing in how far and how fast it spread. Its significance

would go beyond the violence on the streets. The police actions during

the riots would be part of what instigated a worldwide boycott of

South African produce and signalled the increased militancy of the

black population of South Africa.

During a reorganisation of the Bantu Education Department of the

government, the South African apartheid government decided to start

enforcing a long-forgotten law requiring that secondary education be

conducted only in Afrikaans, rather than in English or any of the

native African languages. This was bitterly resented by both teachers

and students. Many teachers themselves did not speak Afrikaans (an

extremely difficult language to learn) and so could not teach the

students. The students resented being forced to learn the language of

their oppressors and saw it as a direct attempt to cut them off from

their original culture.

By 1976, several teachers were ignoring the directive and were fired,

prompting staff resignations. Tensions grew. Students refused to write

papers in Afrikaans and were expelled. The students of one school

after another went on strike. The government response was to simply

shut the down schools and expel the striking students.

A protest march was organi...

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69 blacks were killed, including women and children. More than 180

people were injured.

The uproar among South African blacks was immediate, and the following

week saw demonstrations, protest marches, strikes, and riots around

the country. On March 30, 1960, the government declared a state of

emergency, detaining more than 18,000 people. The ANC and the PAC were

banned and forced to go underground or into exile. Thereafter, both

movements abandoned the traditional strategy of non-violent protest

and turned increasingly to armed struggle. A storm of international

protest followed the Sharpeville shootings, including condemnation by

the United Nations. Sharpeville marked a turning point in South

Africa's history; the country found itself increasingly isolated in

the international community for the next 30 years.