Skip to main content
Menu

Two former Soweto student leaders, Khotso Seathlolo and Mary Loate are given long term sentences

This Day in History: March 11, 1982
Additional Date: March 11, 1982
Two former Soweto student leaders, Khotso Seathlolo, 25, and Mary Loate, 23 were given long term imprisonment under the Terrorism Act. Seathlolo was given 15 years and his companion, Mary was given 10 years. The two were convicted for events related to the 16 June 1976 uprising. On this day, more than 20 000 learners marched against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in Black secondary schools. Seatlholo faced additional charges. These included leaving South Africa illegally and being a member of a banned organisation in exile. Other key leaders who played a major role were. Tsietsi Mashinini Murphy Morobe Seth Mazibuko Elias "Roller" Masinga Billy Masetlha Super Moloi Daniel Sechaba Montsitsi Trofomo Sono Sibongile Mthembu Mkhabela Titi Mthenjane Thabo Ndabeni Jefferson Lengane Paul Langa Hector Pieterson (killed in action)