Johannesburg Attractions
Sam Nzima's photograph of Hector Pieterson © www.south-africa-tours-and-travel.com
Hector Pieterson Memorial site and Museum
Hector Pieterson became the iconic image of the 1976 Soweto
uprising during apartheid South Africa, when a news photograph of
the dying Hector being carried by a fellow student was published
across the globe. He was just 12 years old when the police,
unprovoked, opened fire on school children who had gathered to
protest the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in
township schools. The museum fuses memorabilia with modern
technology and cultural history and is located two blocks away from
where Hector was killed. In 2007 Hector's sister Antoinette, who is
seen in the famous photograph holding her hands held out in panic,
was working at the museum as a tour guide and today 16 June is a
public holiday named National Youth Day to honour young
people.
Address: Hector Pieterson Sq., corner of Khumalo and Pela Sts., Orlando West, Soweto;
Telephone: (011) 536 0611;
Opening time: Monday to Saturday from 10am-5pm; Sunday 10am-4:30pm;
Admission: Adults: R15, students: R5
