Fifty years ago | Riots spread to Cape Town; march by ‘coloureds’
This archival piece from 1976 reports on racial disturbances in Cape Town, South Africa, during the apartheid era. It details clashes between police and demonstrators, including the use of tear gas and gunfire against students.
Why it matters
The article serves as a historical record of the escalating violence and civil unrest that characterized the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
Cape Town, September 3: Cape Town was rocked for the second day to-day by racial disturbances. Yesterday’s eruption which involved 3,000 coloured youths was the first intrusion of racial violence into the white centre of any South African city since demonstrations against apartheid began in black townships 11 weeks ago.
Unconfirmed reports said 5,000 coloured youths were marching on Cape Town from outlying black townships.
One person was killed and at least two others were wounded when South African police opened fire on students throwing stones at a high school not far from the centre of Cape Town to-day.
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