The struggle to end apartheid rule in SouthAfricawas not as easy as it sounds.
It involved bloodshed in the hands of the cruel oppressors.
The Soweto Uprising was one of the instances that had the most significant influence on the struggle.
Dead kids during the uprising. Photo: @Monica NiehausSource: UGC
Innocent lives like Hector Pieterson’s were lost.
The freedom that most people enjoy today did not come easy.
It involved a series of protests that led to the Soweto Uprising.
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During the event, most innocent people lost their lives, including Hector Pieterson.
The pictures of his dead body being carried stirred emotions in the country.
Pieterson’s early life
Hector Pieterson was born to Vivian Pieterson andDorothy Molefiin 1963.
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He was born and raised in Soweto, South Africa.
He shared the same father and mother with Lulu Pieterson.
He attended the same school as his stepsister, Antoinette.
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Whatever dream he had was about his education was cut short during a student-organised protest in 1976.
How old was Hector Pieterson when he died?
Hector Pieterson’s age was 11 years old.
Image: facebook.com, @JahGeneral MkeleSource: UGC
He was killed on the 16th of June, 1976.
Why is Hector Pieterson famous?
Hector Pieterson is associated with the Soweto Uprising.
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He was among the people who lost their lives as they revolted against using the Afrikaans language in school.
The conditions of his death are what drew the attention of most people.
How many times was Hector Pieterson shot?
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No one can give a specific answer.
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So, is Hector Pieterson still alive?
He is dead but has become a symbol of freedom in the newSouth African democracyafter the event.
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Nevertheless, so many controversies surround the right to use his name.
What led to the Soweto Uprising?
In 1975, the minister in charge of the Bantu Education Department, M.C Botha,initiated a policy.
Hector Pieterson’s museum. Photo: Laird ForbesSource: Getty Images
He wanted to ensure thatsecondary schoolpupils use theAfrikaans language.
According to Hector Pieterson’s sister, Antoinette Sithole, schoolwork was already challenging despite being taught in English.
Therefore, those in Soweto resolved to organise a march against this regulation.
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They planned to march to the Orlando stadium, where they would have a rally.
The government was against the protest and ordered the protesters to disperse, which they flagrantly disobeyed.
To inflict fear on them, the police resorted to lethal force.
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Pandemonium broke loose after the police began to shoot teargas canisters and live bullets at the students.
Among those that lost their lives and have their pictures shared is Hector Pieterson.
The pictures were taken by a photographer known as Sam Nzima, who somehow got information about the protest.
What happened to the guy who carried Hector Pieterson?
Mbuyisa Makhubo was not part of the protesters initially but ran to help people when he heard gunshots.
The photographer took a picture of him carrying a bloodied Hector with panicky Antoinette walking beside him.
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Mbusiya ran into trouble because of his efforts to save the dying boy.
His lifecame under threatby the security forces.
They accused him of embarrassing the government by posing for a picture while carrying Hector’s body.
The government continued to harass him until he reached a breaking point.
One day, he disappeared from home and never came back.
His mother said hesent a letterin 1978 to say he was in Nigeria and planned to go to Jamaica.
However, some sources reported that he wasimprisoned in Canadafor flouting immigration laws.
This could not be established because Mbusiya used different names since he went into exile.
No one knows if this Good Samaritan during the Soweto Uprising in South Africa is dead or alive.
The harmful effects include increased violence throughout South Africa.
However, the biggest gain from this protest, in the long run, was the end of apartheid.
South Africans can now vote for a democratically elected government because of the struggle that was birthed after this.
Several Soweto Uprising videos, including interviews with eyewitnesses like Sam Nzima, are available online.
Why is Hector Pieterson a hero?
It is because he lost his life while the youth were trying to express their displeasure.
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Later in 2002, The Hector Pieterson Museumwas opened.
The museum is situated behind the memorial site.
His picture shared during the killing is carved on the monument site.
He was among those that the policemen targeted.
Hector Pieterson is one of theyoung schoolchildren who lost their lives during the Soweto Uprising.
The conditions of their death stirred an emotional atmosphere in the country.
Find out from the post other warriors in the continent that made history.
She graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering in 2019.
In 2023, Priscillah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques.
She has been writing articles on Briefly.co.za since 2019.
Email: pshmueni@gmail.com
