A bloodbath in Soweto

A bloodbath in Soweto

        - During the late 70s, Afrikaaners led South Africa. They implemented a regime which was named Apartheid.

        - In Soweto, a thousand of schoolchildren protested against discrimination based on skin color.

        - The protest turned into a bloody riot because the policemen shot at unarmed schoolchildren.

        - So, the latter retaliated by throwing stones at the merciless policemen.

        - Many were injured / wounded and died.

        - It was like a war. It was chaotic.

Racial Segregation

        - A little boy named Hector Pieterson once lived in Soweto. During the 1976 uprising, he was killed by the police. H.P became a martyr.

        - Soweto is a township: it’s a black living area where dire poverty reigns.

        - In this area, there isn’t running water or electricity so it is underprivileged.

        - The railroad symbolizes a border with the white living area.

        - Normally, a train is supposed to crate links between people. It allows people to travel. But her exchanges seem impossible.

Sharpeville

        - received $8M from state funds = a facelift.

        - less racism but eco. Poverty (low wages, high rents)

        - clashes with the police / burnt cars.

        - Massacre (21/03/1960)

        - Reason for the demonstration: VS the Pass system & VS poor living conditions

        - Escalations and consequences: the police opened fire on 20,000 people → 69 died & 200 were injured.

        - NOW, every March 21st, people commemorate the anniversary of the massacre.

The Natives Act

        - identification book / reference book / pass / “dompas”: stupid pass → aim at regulating and supervising the movement of black workers.

        - The pass prevented black people from that freedom of movement. They couldn’t work wherever they wanted and travel whenever they wanted.

        - The pas hindered black people from their free movement.

        - If they trespassed the law, they might be deported to their native homeland or arrested.

        - They got their pass at a labour bureau in order to be law-abiding.

Goodbye Bafana

        - In this scene from Goodbye Bafana, we can see black South African inmates, among them Nelson Mandela, and a white warden, in Robben Island.

        - They are arguing about the attack / car bombing orchestrated by the ANC and which killed 17 white civilians.

        - The warden wants Nelson Mandela and the ANC to lay down arms but N.M replies that in order to earn their freedom, they must take over.

        - They only path to freedom is power and that’s why, they are ready to resort to violence.

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