Cape Town - Across the city today, children will celebrate having an education that their parents never did.
Bantu education, an inferior system introduced in schools in 1953, was created to undermine black, coloured and Indian people.
On June 16, 1976, more than 15 000 pupils gathered at the Orlando West Secondary School in Soweto for a peaceful march.
It ended when the police and armed forces opened fire, killing 176 pupils, including 12-year-old Hector Pieterson, who has become a symbol of the tragedy.
Speaking at the commemoration of the Day of the African Child 2015 yesterday, Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini said the spirit of the class of ’76 should inspire pupils “into action against the injustices of your time”.
The injustice she was referring to is the practice of forcing girl children to become brides.
“Despite the best efforts to protect children from forced marriages, many children still remain vulnerable to this despicable practice,” Dlamini said.
A host of events are taking place to commemorate June 16, 1976, across the city today.
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