Our Day of History

We went to The Mandela Family Museum. 

There is just too much to say about Nelson Mandela and all that he did in striving to create peace among whites and blacks in South Africa. Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress. The South African courts convicted him of charges of sabotage and sentenced him to 27 years in prison. After his release from jail on 11 Feb 1990, he did not hold bitterness in his heart to those who put him there. He fought against apartheid through reconciliation and negotiation, striving for "one person, one vote." Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically elected President of South Africa on 10 May 1994.

This was his house located at 8115 Vilakazi St, Orlando West, Soweto. "The house itself was identical to hundreds of others built on postage-stamp-size plots on dirt roads. It had the same standard tin roof, the same cement floor, a narrow kitchen, and a bucket toilet at the back," Mandela explained from his book Long Walk to Freedom (which I strongly recommend you reading, the abridged version). Many times this house had been fire-bombed and damaged by security police. There are even bullet holes in the bricks in the front of the house.

We had a wonderful tour guide who showed us around Mandela's home. She is a student and is studying tourism and marketing. I always enjoy meeting new people and have developed a love for the people of South Africa.

We also went to the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum. 

16 June 1976 changed the course of South Africa's history. On this day, over 15,000 school children planned to march from their schools to Orlando Stadium. Once at the stadium, they were going to agree on a list of grievances and compose a petition to present to the department of education. The apartheid government was demanding that black students in Soweto be taught in Afrikaans regardless of their spoken Bantu language. Hector Pieterson, a 13 year old student in Soweto was shot and killed when police opened fire on the protest march. Hector was one of 23 students the government reports being killed that day. The violence that ensued during the next few weeks because of this march led to the deaths of approximately 700 people, many of them youths.

This picture taken by Sam Nzima assisted in the liberation of blacks who were being oppressed by the Afrikaan government. The death of so many school children brought international attention to what was happening in South Africa and lead to the condemnation of the apartheid government.

On the way home, children were enjoying a home made swing on the side of the road. I thought back to Hector Pieterson and how many young children have died for the freedom non-white South Africans now have. These children swinging as well as our girls in Girls Club are the same age as those killed during the apartheid struggle.

16 June is now celebrated as National Youth Day. Please pray that the youth of South Africa would grow up to know the Lord. Pray that they would experience true freedom that can only be found in Christ, as they face many obstacles living in Soweto. Pray they would understand the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Pray that they would live a life that would bring glory to the Father.