The date, 16 June 1976 is ingrained in the South African psyche as a day of huge political significance. It marks the beginning of the Soweto student protests commonly referred to as the ‘Soweto Uprisings’. The use of the plural form is intentional, because ‘June 16’ or ‘June sixteenth’ also refers to a series of student protests that continued for the rest of 1976 and flared up again in 1977.
Historical research often requires visits to repositories, record centres and libraries. These treasure chests of information offer a unique window into our past. They are gateways to documents and records that were created by people who passed away long ago. These old records from days gone by are commonly known as archives.
A confluence of unfortunate historical forces was shaping the lives of South African women of colour for centuries. Since the founding of a white colonial society at the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or VOC) in the 17th century, domestic labour was performed by the indigenous Khoikhoi.
The history of South Africa’s liberation struggle (c. 1960–1994) is a multi-layered saga that is still being uncovered. This process involves oral interviews with veterans and in-depth research conducted in archives and repositories of anti-apartheid movements worldwide. During this ongoing exploration, previously overlooked and unknown aspects of the freedom fighting have emerged. Typically, these ‘hidden histories’ involve the lives and lived experiences of the foot soldiers in both the political resistance and armed battle against apartheid.
Carlos Achadinha was 18 years old when he left the small town of Estreito da Calheta on the island of Madeira, Portugal. Not only did he leave his childhood home behind but also his homeland, when he decided to explore opportunities in South Africa. Carlos left Madeira in 1947 and, like many other Portuguese men who were searching for greener pastures, he travelled by ship to Lourenço Marques (Maputo), the capital of Mozambique. At the time, Mozambique was a Portuguese colony and a key point of entry – legal or illegal – into South Africa.