An incredible of images and stories about this tragic event. The Museum is located at the spot where the shooting began and it is deeply moving. I didnt know much about the story before the visit and thought it was an excellent tribute to the people who died here.
This museum is amazingly good and sad at the same time. If you go to Soweto, don't miss it. The story about Hector Pieterson and all those school kids trying to live a better a life is touching, emotional and will make you think new things about how cruel men can be. Go, read the stories, watch the videos and thank you didn't get to go through all those things.
The photograph of Hector Pieterson's bloody body being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo while Hector's sister is running next to them is one of the most iconic ever taken. It served to ram home the atrocities of the apartheid government to people throughout the world. That one image galvanized world wide resistance to that evil regime. While this museum which is visited during most tours to Soweto bears his name in memorial, it is more than a memorial to just one person. Hector's death was the culmination of a series of demonstrations carried out by young students protesting the policies of apartheid epitomized by the imposition of Afrikaans as the language of instruction.This museum takes you through the origins of apartheid in words – lots of words – and pictures but it concentrates on the evolution of racist educational policies in the run up to the demonstrations of June 1976. It is a memorial for all the students who revolted against these policies, a revolt which heralded the final extirpation of apartheid.When you enter the museum you will be led through a brief chronological history of apartheid with extensive text. Next, a detailed review of educational policies will be presented and, finally the specific events leading up to the events of June 1976 are illustrated on a day by day basis.Unfortunately most formal Soweto tours allow a limited time to be spent at the museum. This will only enable a cursory overview of the narrative which is presented to be made. It is, however, key to understanding the history that one takes sufficient time to read the presentation. If at all possible and if you are truly interested in understanding the context then try to spend at least one hour here.
The Hector Pieterson Museum is probably one of the highlights of the Soweto Tour. It gives a true reflection of those dark days and with it's factual accounts results in a far better rendition of what happened than the 'shock" tactics of the Apartheid Museum. It depicts an event which should never be forgotten or repeated.
Learned about the history of Apartheid and the June 16 Soweto Uprising (in 1976), an important event of South Africa's history.
It was great going there, we got to see why people love Soweto so much. I must say if you are a local person, eating at Vilakazi street might be too expensive for an ordinary guy.
If You are interested in the history of democracy in South Africa, then this is an excellent platform. the Museum is of very high class standard. also a must to see.
An excellent museum to learn about the history of the Soweto uprising. Such a tragic part of this country's history, but a wonderful museum and tribute to all who worked to make change!
This is a really nice museum with great architecture and really well presented history about Soweto. Really glad I visited, I highly recommend going.
self guided tour of the museum. Very informative! Videos, pictures,articles of the events of the Soweto uprising and Hector. Meeting Hector's sister who works in the museum was much appreciated. I would recommend this visit as it is an important part of life in Soweto and the events surrounding the uprising.