Reflecting on what happened on June 16, 1976
"I can't celebrate deaths of innocent people"
Today marks the day where the youth of 1976 fought against the education system during the Apartheid era. While the generation of today celebrates the day with concerts, football tournaments and joyful events, there are still those who remember the day as a traumatising and sad one. We interviewed Councillor Basil Douglas who was 14 years old at the time and Hubert Beckett who was 10 years old in 1976.
“The Afrikaans language wasn’t our main focus but Bantu and Coloured inferior education and the facilities were. We participated as Noordgesig because we have a common history with Soweto with many having friends and family’s there. It’s was a very bad day, one could only hear and duck gunshots of live ammunition as there was no rubber bullets and bird shot there. What does a soldier know of public order policies? they are trained to kill,” said Douglas.
The cllr added that the day is still a very, very traumatic day. “Others have now transformed a solemn occasion to a day of music and dance.I can’t celebrate deaths of innocent people. I mourn them,” explained Douglas.
