Youth Day in Soweto: Your must-do June 16 guide

It’s been 50 years since the 1976 Soweto uprising, and this weekend Jozi My Jozi invites people to spend a symbolic 76 hours in Soweto. We’ll be spending the weekend there and hope you will join us.

It’s been 50 years since the 1976 Soweto uprising, and this weekend Jozi My Jozi invites people to spend a symbolic 76 hours in Soweto.

The theme is Honouring the Past, Building the Future – Bridget Hilton-Barber is your guide and here’s what’s on offer:

A series of films across different venues — followed by unapologetic Q&As with directors, thinkers and cultural troublemakers. Each venue has local sound, live performance and visual art to turn each screening into a full-blown cultural experience. Here’s the programme:

Beyond Forgiving (2013, 28 min) A poignant documentary following Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele on a true journey of healing and reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa. A story of tragedy, forgiveness and hope.

Ubani Lore? (2025, 10 min) A wildly original South African surrealist comedy, three odd friends on a bizarre quest for a book that doesn’t exist.

Philani Brown Retrospective. Through screenings, conversation and reflection, celebrated filmmaker Philani Brown traces the evolution of his voice from early shorts to a bold, celebrated body of work.

Join a tour with struggle hero Seth Mazibuko, hosted by the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation. One of the original 1976 student organisers, Mazibuko was subsequently arrested and imprisoned for 10 months at Constitution Hill’s infamous Number 4 for his actions. Walk with Mazibuko as he shares the deeply moving story of the march from his first-hand perspective. The 4km walk will begin at Morris Isaacson High School and end at Hector Pietersen Museum, where Mazibuko will take an exclusive guided tour.

Details: Meet at 09:20am to depart at 09:30am from the Sunnyside Park Hotel, Princess of Wales Terrace corner Carse O’Gowrie Rd, Parktown. A bus will take guests to and from Soweto. Tickets include transport and admission to the Hector Pietersen Museum. Space is limited, and early booking is recommended. For information email [email protected]

The Locrate Market (Locrate stands for Local Creatives) presents Generation Now, featuring food, culture, music, makers, fashion and kids’ zone. It’s a celebration of 50 years of youth culture, tracking creative evolution from old-school township styles up to today’s trends. Think local independent designers, streetwear brands, visual artists, and handmade crafts, a delicious curation of local food entrepreneurs and modern township cu