Choose your country and language:

Africa

  • Global
  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • DRC
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • shotLeft

Americas

  • USA
  • Argentina
  • Brazil

Asia Pacific

  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia

Europe

  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom
Back

TThe Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto's Khumalo Street recalls the events of 16 June 1976 and the ensuing Soweto Uprising. This museum in Soweto takes the visitor on a journey that includes the build up to a youth rebellion, the events of that fateful day and its aftermath.

Did You Know?
HHastings Ndlovu, a Soweto student leader, was the first person killed in the Soweto Uprising.

TThe Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto's Khumalo Street recalls the events of 16 June 1976 and the ensuing Soweto Uprising. This museum in Soweto takes the visitor on a journey that includes the build up to a youth rebellion, the events of that fateful day and its aftermath.

TThe Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto is a short distance from where police opened fire on students on 16 June 1976 during a protest against the introduction of Afrikaans as a language of instruction in township schools.

On the morning of Wednesday, 16 June, scholars in Soweto assembled in school grounds before beginning their march to Orlando Stadium where a protest against Afrikaans was to be held. On the way, not far from Phefeni Junior Secondary School on Vilikazi Street, schoolboy Hector Pieterson joined a group of several thousand scholars.

After a brief standoff, police opened fire and the photograph of a dying Hector Pieterson, cradled in the arms of a fellow student with his terrified sister running beside them, flashed around the world. This image, taken by news photographer Sam Nzima, became a symbol of the resistance against apartheid. Today, June 16 is commemorated as Youth Day in South Africa.

EEvents of that fateful day are remembered at the Hector Pieterson Museum, the premier heritage site in Soweto. Situated in Orlando West on Khumalo Street, it is a two-storey red brick building with a Hector Pieterson memorial on the grounds.

Inside, opposite the bookshop, is a garden of remembrance with the names of all those who died in the uprising inscribed on loose bricks.

On the walls of this museum in Soweto are enlarged photographs of the events of that day as they unfolded with extensive commentary together with audio-visual presentations.

From this Soweto museum it is a short walk along a tree-lined avenue to the fine restaurants and Mandela House national heritage site on Vilikazi Street.

 

Related Articles

Bustling city life

Marina Appelbaum: Nikos and Old Ducky French Cafe

Bustling city life
Marina Appelbaum: Nikos and Old Ducky French Cafe
South Africa is a marvel. Not only does the country boast warm and welcoming people, but it has also an array of culinary offerings enough to cater to any palate and feast. We continue with our celebration of South Africa’s women in the tourism and hospitality sector and this time we catch up with foodie, Marina Appelbaum Marina Appelbaum grew up in the kitchen of the iconic Three Sisters Cafe in Hillbrow which her mother ran for 28 years, with a family legacy like hers it is unsurprising that she is the owner of two thriving eateries - Nikos and The Old Ducky French Café in Pineslopes in Fourways, Johannesburg.
Vibrant culture

Tour Soweto in Gauteng: experience vibrant township life and the spirit not even apartheid could crush in the south of Johannesburg

Vibrant culture
Tour Soweto in Gauteng: experience vibrant township life and the spirit not even apartheid could crush in the south of Johannesburg
Take a tour of Soweto, Johannesburg’s vibrant city-within-a-city – apart from learning the history of the struggle against apartheid, you can immerse yourself in a modern urban vibe with lots to do.
Active adventure

Soweto Bicycle Tours: see the famed suburbs on two wheels

Active adventure
Soweto Bicycle Tours: see the famed suburbs on two wheels
Soweto Bicycle Tours let you explore South Africa’s most famous township’s streets with a qualified guide, taking in historical sites like the former homes of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu.
Bustling city life

South African architectural tours: explore the urban design that built a nation

Bustling city life
South African architectural tours: explore the urban design that built a nation
South African urban architectural design tours introduce visitors to the eclectic array of styles and influences behind the country’s most iconic buildings.
Vibrant culture

South African cultural museums: rich traditions and history all over

Vibrant culture
South African cultural museums: rich traditions and history all over
South Africans are a diverse mix of peoples from Africa, Europe, Asia and elsewhere, and the many museums scattered around the country preserve rich histories, heritages and cultural traditions.
Vibrant culture

Historic places of worship in South Africa: cathedrals, churches, mosques, synagogues and temples catering to religious diversity

Vibrant culture
Historic places of worship in South Africa: cathedrals, churches, mosques, synagogues and temples catering to religious diversity
South Africa is a country of rich religious diversity, protected by the Constitution, so explore sacred architecture and spiritual traditions at our many historic places of worship.
Vibrant culture

A showcase of African art – Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg

Vibrant culture
A showcase of African art – Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg
Wits Art Museum – part of the University of the Witwatersrand – houses an African art collection that was started in the 1920s and includes masks, photographs, paintings and more.
Vibrant culture

The Swazi people

Vibrant culture
The Swazi people
The Swazi people, part of the Nguni tribe, originated from east-central Africa in the late 15th century and settled in the area known as Swaziland.

South Africa on social media

Copyright © 2023 South African Tourism
|Terms and conditions|Disclaimer|Privacy policy