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Memorial · Joanesburgo, Gauteng
Memorial e Museu Hector Pieterson
Memorial and museum in Soweto about the student uprising of 16 June 1976, when 12-year-old pupil Hector Pieterson was killed by police.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Memorial e Museu Hector Pieterson
On 16 June 1976, thousands of Soweto students took to the streets to protest against being forced to learn in Afrikaans, the language associated with the apartheid government. The police fired on the march, and among the first killed was 12-year-old Hector Pieterson. Sam Nzima's photograph, showing the boy being carried by a friend with his sister running alongside, circulated around the world.
The memorial is on Khumalo Street, a few blocks from where Hector fell, with the enlarged photo and a reflecting pool. Next to it, the museum, opened in 2002, tells the story of the uprising with photos, videos and testimonies, and windows point to sites along the march route.
16 June became a national holiday, Youth Day, and the uprising is considered one of the moments that changed the country's course.
The museum is close to Vilakazi Street and Mandela House, and visits are often combined.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 to 1½ hours.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon, together with Mandela House.
How to get there
It is on Khumalo Street, Orlando West, Soweto, about 500 metres from Mandela House — within walking distance.
Tip
Visit the museum before walking Vilakazi Street: the march route becomes clearer.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Memorial e Museu Hector Pieterson
Who was Hector Pieterson?
A 12‑year‑old student killed by police in the Soweto uprising on 16 June 1976.
Where is the Hector Pieterson memorial?
On Khumalo Street in Orlando West, Soweto, near Vilakazi Street.
Why is 16 June a public holiday in South Africa?
It is Youth Day, in memory of the 1976 Soweto student uprising.