Hector Pieterson ( 19 August 1963 – 16 June 1976 ) was a South African schoolboy who was shot and killed during the Soweto uprising , when police opened fire on students protesting the enforcement of teaching in Afrikaans . A news photograph by Sam Nzima of the mortally wounded Pieterson being carried by another Soweto resident while his sister ran next to them was published around the world . The anniversary of his death is designated Youth Day , when South Africans honour young people and bring attention to their needs . On 16 June 1976 , school children protested the implementation of Afrikaans and English as dual medium of instruction in secondary schools in a 50:50 basis . This was implemented throughout South Africa regardless of the locally-spoken language and some exams were also written in Afrikaans . . Students gathered to peacefully demonstrate , but the crowd soon became intimidated when the police arrived , they then started to throw stones
Soweto uprising
Soweto uprising
Hector Pieterson