On June 16 1976, Hector Peterson, a 13 year old schoolboy, was shot in the back by a white policeman in Soweto.

His death was the spark that blew the lid on any illusions about South Africa and apartheid. The uprisings which followed left at least 500 dead, mainly black schoolchildren.

The events of Soweto have given the world a few lessons. The first was a confirmation of the lessons of the Sharpeville massacre of 1960. The South African state is incapable of listening to peaceful protest. They will crush with ruthless military power any opposition or dissent.