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how old was hector peterson when he died

2026-06-16 1 Views

was 12 years old when he was shot and killed by apartheid police on June 16, 1976. Key Details of His Death The Cause: He was killed by a bullet fired directly at him during a peaceful student protest in Soweto, South Africa. The Protest: Black students were marching to

was 12 years old when he was shot and killed by apartheid police on June 16, 1976.

Key Details of His Death

  • The Cause: He was killed by a bullet fired directly at him during a peaceful student protest in Soweto, South Africa.
  • The Protest: Black students were marching to protest a government mandate enforcing Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools.
  • The Iconic Photo: Photojournalist Sam Nzima captured a world-famous image of 18-year-old Mbuyisa Makhubo carrying Hector's body alongside Hector's sister, Antoinette Sithole.
  • The Legacy: His death became a global symbol of the brutality of the apartheid regime. Today, June 16 is commemorated nationally in South Africa as National Youth Day.