1976: Soweto protest turns violent
At least 12 people are reported to have been killed in a series of violent clashes between black demonstrators and police in several South African townships.
Angry youths threw stones and beer bottles at police, as a protest against the compulsory use of Afrikaans as the main teaching language in black schools turned violent.
The violence spread from one end of the city to the other, with fires in Soweto reaching Alexandra, a township in the northern outskirts close to some of the rich white suburbs.
Police squads patrolled the streets in an attempt to prevent shops and public buildings from being damaged. As the situation worsened more police were drafted in.
Two men were shot dead after a car sped down a street and tried to run down police at an intersection.
"This government will not be intimidated"
- Prime Minister Vorster
Demonstrators directed their anger at local amenities as well as at symbols of white authority, with beer halls, community centres and schools coming under attack.
In Natalspruit, a township East of Johannesburg, buses were used as battering rams to destroy official buildings, while others were set on fire.
Six other African townships around the nation's biggest city were affected by the violence, but police roadblocks prevented journalists from entering the townships to find out what was happening for themselves.
Prime Minister Vorster demanded an immediate end to the disturbances.
He said: "We are dealing here not with a spontaneous outburst but with a deliberate attempt to bring about polarisation between whites and blacks.
"This government will not be intimidated and instructions have been given to maintain law and order at all costs."
Your Memories?
Write your account of the events.
news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/16/newsid_2514000/2514467.stm
At least 12 people are reported to have been killed in a series of violent clashes between black demonstrators and police in several South African townships.
Angry youths threw stones and beer bottles at police, as a protest against the compulsory use of Afrikaans as the main teaching language in black schools turned violent.
The violence spread from one end of the city to the other, with fires in Soweto reaching Alexandra, a township in the northern outskirts close to some of the rich white suburbs.
Police squads patrolled the streets in an attempt to prevent shops and public buildings from being damaged. As the situation worsened more police were drafted in.
Two men were shot dead after a car sped down a street and tried to run down police at an intersection.
"This government will not be intimidated"
- Prime Minister Vorster
Demonstrators directed their anger at local amenities as well as at symbols of white authority, with beer halls, community centres and schools coming under attack.
In Natalspruit, a township East of Johannesburg, buses were used as battering rams to destroy official buildings, while others were set on fire.
Six other African townships around the nation's biggest city were affected by the violence, but police roadblocks prevented journalists from entering the townships to find out what was happening for themselves.
Prime Minister Vorster demanded an immediate end to the disturbances.
He said: "We are dealing here not with a spontaneous outburst but with a deliberate attempt to bring about polarisation between whites and blacks.
"This government will not be intimidated and instructions have been given to maintain law and order at all costs."
Your Memories?
Write your account of the events.
news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/16/newsid_2514000/2514467.stm
