SOWETO TODAY

The 16^th June 1976 began like any other day for the Peterson family,  residing in Soweto at that time. 

Hector Peterson woke up,  went to the bathroom,  put on his maroon Phefeni Junior Secondary School uniform,  ate breakfast and finally kissing his mother goodbye – little did his mother know that this would be the last time. 

“This is Radio Freedom reporting to you live from Soweto on this beautiful sunshine day,… several schools are expected to start late today as students are refusing to enter the school grounds,…” 

This was the first message that could be heard on the small battery operated radio’s in the shacks of Soweto(South Western Townships) when a group of 30 students stood outside Phefeni Junior Secondary School,   Soweto,  they decided “Today this Afrikaans forcing ends”. 

“The students seem to be becoming more lively now as they make their way down Vilakazi Street in protest,  Radio Freedom will try to get comment from one of the students,…” 

The students made their way down Vilakazi Street,  they were now not only protesting against Afrikaans tuition in Soweto but also the famous ‘Apartheid’ of that time.  ‘The basic principle behind apartheid was simple – segregate everything.  Cut a clean line through a nation to divide black from white and keep them divided…”,  this segregation and separation was not done by a physical ground laid border,  but by a more powerful border,  one much more powerful indeed,  “Cross this line at this time and die!!!!”,  a mental border. 

The power of apartheid was so great that black people were left in a small space a few kilometres from Johannesburg. 

“We got hold of one of the participating students and he is willing to comment…So tell me and the listeners why exactly it is that you are protesting today…’Today this apartheid force ends!!!!’” 

These word were interrupted by gun fire from the South African Police Service.  According to a police representative of that time they opened gun fire on the students because located further down Vilakazi street was a police station and it was thought that the students were heading there.  “They did not inform the police that they were heading towards Orlando Stadium.” 

“This Radio Freedom still in Soweto with some heart breaking news…a young boy has been shot during the protest against Afrikaans tuition and apartheid,  the identity of the boy is still unknown to us at this time,…” 

Let’s go back a few hours prior to this heart drenching message,  “This is Radio Freedom reporting to you live from Soweto on this beautiful sunshine morning…”,  the broadcast message which followed the hard wrecking message was “This day will long be remembered to not only Sowetan’s but everyone as the day police touched the soft spot of the community…its youth,…” 

Just imagine how the parents must have felt waiting in anticipation to hear who the young boy was that got shot,  they wanted to know the name but at the same time they preferred not to know because what if it was their ‘baby’? 

“The students seem to have settled down now,  we hope their protest has results,  this is Radio Freedom goodbye.” 

‘THE NAME’ was not released!  

As the students returned home their mothers were crying,  counting their blessings that it was not their child and having silent time for the unknown family who’s child it was… 

It began to get late and Peterson’s mother was starting to get anxious in fear that her suspicion was about to be confirmed,  this was surely the longest night for the Peterson household,  and by the morning of the 17^th of June 1976 they accepted that their beloved little boy was not coming home,  not coming home…ever. 

Why did the “Boer’s” do this?  Did they really have to be so cruel?  Blacks are also human beings!  Strangely enough,  by reading this story,  what race do you think I am?  Would you believe me when I tell you that I am white?  Makes you think… 

Times have changed.  Brick houses were build,  Soweto has become a tourist attraction through places such as the Orlando Towers,  Soccer City(FNB Stadium),  Orlando Stadium and museums has been erected for Hector,  Nelson Mandela and apartheid as a whole.  Times have changed but the memory of then is burned in with the fire of a rolling tire set alight by anger.