Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, has paid tribute to the youth who led the 1976 Soweto uprising during a visit to the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto, South Africa.
The minister visited the memorial on June 17, accompanied by Rwanda’s Ambassador to South Africa, Emmanuel Hategeka, where they honored the memory of young anti-apartheid activists.
Nduhungirehe said the tribute was made on behalf of the Government and people of Rwanda, recognizing the sacrifice of Hector Pieterson and other Soweto youth who stood against apartheid oppression.
“Today, on behalf of the Government and the people of Rwanda, I pay tribute to Hector Pieterson and all the youth heroes of Soweto. Their sacrifice should continue to inspire peace, resilience, and freedom across Africa and the world,” he said.
Hector Pieterson became one of the most iconic symbols of the anti-apartheid struggle after he was shot dead at the age of 12 during the June 16, 1976 student uprising in Soweto. The protests were sparked by the apartheid government’s decision to enforce Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools for Black students.
The visit comes as the Rwandan minister is in South Africa on a working trip aimed at strengthening and revitalizing bilateral relations between the two countries.
