The June 16 memorial

RELATED LINKS: June 16, 1976 - Hastings Ndlovu's day too JUNE 16, 1976 is a day deeply etched in the memories of all South Africans, symbolised in the form of 12-year-old Hector Pieterson, who was shot and killed by police. But another boy, Hastings Ndlovu, was probably shot before Pieterson, but no photographer was on hand to record the moment. Read more Soweto heritage walk takes its first step THE City of Johannesburg has approved a plan for the creation of a Soweto Heritage Precinct, which will take in important historical sites - including the Hector Pieterson Museum. Read more Soweto's red brick route to 16 June 1976 RED paving stones have been chosen to mark the route taken by marching schoolchildren on that fateful day in June 1976. The red represents their struggle and the blood that was spilled. Read more Morris Isaacson's stars go back to school MORRIS Isaacson High School, known for the role it played in the uprising against apartheid education in 1976, held its first gathering of former students and teachers. Read more

Ali Hlongwane, chief curator at the Hector Pieterson Museum and Kliptown Open-air Museum

Workers busy on the construction of the Acre's amphitheatre

Work on '76 memorial acre gathers pace A memorial park, opposite Morris Isaacson Secondary School in Soweto, is being built in memory of the 16 June 1976 uprisings and the young people who led the charge. December 13, 2006 By Ndaba Dlamini IN honour of the Class of '76, the City of Johannesburg is building a memorial acre in Central Western Jabavu and there are plans to establish a heroes' acre to remember Tietsi Mashinini, Hector Pieterson, Hastings Ndlovu, other student leaders and missing persons of that time. The June 16 Memorial Acre, built on a park directly opposite the famous Morris Isaacson Secondary School, is almost complete with landscaping, a memorial wall and public art already installed. The park is of great significance because it has historic memories related to the events of 16 June 1976, says Ali Hlongwane, the chief curator at the Hector Pieterson Museum and Kliptown Open-air Museum. "The park used to be called KoThabeng by the local community and Mobil Park by the city parks department. It is where meetings were held when students planned the 16 June marches." A memorial wall at the June 16 Memorial Acre Phase one of the development started on 16 June this year, the 30th anniversary of the uprising, and the next phase will begin on 16 June 2007 and continue until 2010. During the 30th anniversary celebrations, the City officially renamed the park the June 16 Memorial Acre, after long consultations with the community, Hlongwane says. The memorial acre, when complete, will consist of an amphitheatre, an exhibition space, spaces where "people can sit down and reflect", recreation facilities and a place where children can play. The landscaping, the artwork, the colours of the flag expressed in the paving design and stonework is meant to express the youthful and rebellious mood that the march reflected at the time. "Although planned, the march became a spontaneous uprising. [It] flared up at various schools in Soweto and followed various routes to culminate at the location where the Hector Pieterson Museum is now located. It was typified by singing and chanting." The park near Morris Isaacson school was a point of departure for some of the marchers, Hlongwane adds. The memorial acre is linked to ongoing work to map out the various routes taken by pupils from different schools during the uprisings. "The project involves identification of historic landmarks, paving and the development of explanation plaques along the routes. The Hector Pieterson Route has been completed and, currently, the Johannesburg Roads Agency and the Gauteng department of public works is working on the Naledi Route." The project is being funded by the provincial department of public works, the Johannesburg Development Agency and the City's Department of Arts, Culture and Heritage Services. Related to the memorial acre, there are plans to develop a heroes' acre in Soweto for veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle. "The establishment of a heroe's acre at various places in Soweto is just an idea at the moment. The process, however, is going to be long and comprehensive consultations with families of the departed heroes and various departments will have to be conducted," Hlongwane explains. According to a report from the Department of Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, there are proposals to develop a heroe's acre at a site in Emndeni South in Soweto. It is bordered by Mtshaya, Legwale/Vilakazi and Ntshangisa streets. At present Section B in the Avalon Cemetery is set aside for the burial of apartheid struggle heroes. The report identifies certain hiccups in the establishment of a heroe's acre, however. It says that over the years, the Class of '76 has taken divergent routes. Some have joined the African National Congress, others the Pan-African Congress and the Black Consciousness formations. Some have remained non-aligned. These divisions became apparent during the 30th anniversary celebrations of the 1976 uprising when Khotso Seathlolo, a high-profile leader in 1976, was re-buried next to Tsietsi Mashinini, who lead the marchers from Morris Isaacson school, at Avalon Cemetery. Section B at Avalon is dedicated to adherents of the Black Consciousness movement, who feel aggrieved that their contributions have not been acknowledged. If this trend continues, the report notes, South Africa's heroes will be buried along ideological divisions. A policy directive supported by the City of Johannesburg will have to look into these problems, the report adds. 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