50 years after the Soweto riots, what has changed?

It has been 50 years since the Soweto uprising in South Africa, when black students rose up in large numbers to protest the oppressive policies of the apartheid government.

The students, wearing their uniforms, faced gunfire, police dogs, and detention. What began as a student strike at a school soon spread across the city of Johannesburg and turned into large-scale riots that turned violent. Many lives were lost, but the protests were largely successful as the policies they campaigned against were eventually rolled back.

Although the Soweto uprising of 1976 occurred 18 years before its fall apartheid, It is widely seen as a pivotal moment in South African history, one of several that put intense pressure on the white minority government and led to the country's rebirth in 1994.

However, despite the celebratory mood in the country, the anniversary has been overshadowed by several crises.

Africa's largest and most advanced economy is plagued by high levels of poverty, unemployment and crime, with the black majority suffering the worst consequences.

In recent weeks, some South Africans have attacked African immigrants, protesting their migration and forcing exit Hundreds of thousands of migrants from other African countries.

“Exactly 50 years later, as young South Africans, you face a different challenge: finding your place in an economy that has kept its doors closed for too long,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement to youth on Monday.

Here's what happened in the Soweto uprising that the nation is remembering today:

What happened in 1976?

No photo captured the Soweto riots, which began on June 16 and lasted until June 18, like the photo of a man carrying a dying schoolboy who had been shot, while his distraught older sister, also in school uniform, ran crying to him.

The boy, 12-year-old Xoleil Hector Peterson, was one of thousands of students who gathered in Soweto to protest new policies that forced black students to learn in English and Afrikaans, the languages ​​of the African-dominated government. Until then, students were taught in English and local languages ​​such as Xhosa and Zulu.

In apartheid South Africa, which existed from 1948 to 1994, the government strictly segregated racial groups in schools, barring black people from visiting white-only areas or entering white-only schools.

The quality of education provided for black children at the time was low, aimed at providing them with low skills: they were trained only for manual labor and menial jobs. So when the government introduced the language policy, which made Afrikaans the compulsory medium of instruction in black schools in early 1975, it was the last straw.

“I knew something was going to happen,” Thami Ntentenyi, a teacher at one of the schools involved in the protests, said, recalling the tension at the time. A member of the military wing of the Liberation African National Congress, he was forced into exile in the Soviet Union a few months before the march. The language policy, he said, was “very sensitive among students as well as teachers”.

On 16 June, thousands of school students began a peaceful march in Soweto. However, apartheid police officers attacked the students and then opened fire, killing many. A few days later riots broke out. At least 176 people were killed, including Peterson, who was pronounced dead when taken to a nearby clinic. Thousands of people were injured, and many others were arrested.

The image of the dying Peterson spread around the world, sparking outrage. The then Organization of African Unity strongly condemned the apartheid government and continued efforts to liberate the country.

This was not the first time blacks had protested while facing gunfire. In 1960, during the Sharpeville protests in the then Transvaal province, blacks protesting against laws requiring the carrying of passbooks were also killed.

June 16 is now a holiday in South Africa called “Day of the African Child” in honor of Hector Pietersen and the other murdered children.

What is life like in South Africa half a century later?

Many South Africans say they still do not see the benefits of democracy, despite their sacrifices to achieve it in 1994.

Government incompetence, corruption, and depletion of mining reserves have resulted in the decline of what was once a gold and platinum powerhouse.

Infrastructure like power supply is crumbling. youth unemployment It is 60 percent among 15-24 year olds. Poverty and crime levels are increasing.

Blacks, who make up 80 percent of the population, are disproportionately affected by poverty. Research shows that black households earn on average about 10,554 South African rand ($652) per month, while white households earn 117,249 rand ($7,427) per month.

The World Bank named South Africa the world's most unequal country in 2022, due to factors such as unequal levels of land ownership between racial groups and the failure of a significant middle class to emerge.

Why are immigrants leaving the country?

Recent attacks on African immigrants, particularly those from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria and Ghana, have revealed the depth of discontent among many South Africans, who believe that immigration is making their lives even more difficult.

South Africa, as one of the most prosperous countries in Africa, has long attracted workers from across the continent. While some people have moved there legally, others are undocumented.

There have been demonstrations and riots against irregular migrants in the past, with South Africans accusing foreigners of taking their opportunity. In recent years, the issue has become more acute with the rise of civilian vigilante movements arresting alleged migrants, as well as some right-wing politicians defining migrants as a burden.

In April, thousands of South Africans again began protesting against the presence of foreign irregular migrants, calling on the government to deport them and enforce stricter border policies.

Mobs attacked homes and businesses of foreigners in several cities, causing the governments of Ghana and Nigeria to evacuate hundreds of their citizens from South Africa. Many people have fled for home from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.

At least two Nigerians have been killed, while Mozambique said at least seven of its citizens have been killed. The countries have called the attacks “xenophobic”, which the South African government rejects.

Democracy youth activist Irfan Mangera told Al Jazeera that the anger felt by young South Africans is justified.

“People have been frustrated for a very long time, and they're at a level where they've lost faith in institutions,” he said, adding that anti-immigrant movements are playing on those frustrations.

While there may be no easy solutions, the activist said, he is personally involving himself in poverty alleviation projects, as well as initiatives to educate youth about their rights and encourage them to vote.

“We want them to see that democracy is still something they can participate in,” Mangera said.