Soweto Memorial Walkway launched

THE first 20 metres of the planned 8,5km Soweto Memorial Walkway was launched in Soweto on June 16, national Youth Day, to mark the events of the student uprising of 1976. The Walkway will trace the march of pupils and end at the point where police fired on students, killing Hector Pietersen and others. According to Pam Ndaba-Mthembu, ceo of Soweto 100, the organisation responsible for Soweto’s centenary celebrations, the walkway is destined to become a premier tourist attraction. It will have signs telling visitors precisely what happened at significant points along the route. “Research by Jo’burg City has shown that tourists want more walking routes in Soweto and this fulfils that need,” said Ndaba-Mthembu. The unveiling is part of the first phase of events leading up to the 30th anniversary of the June 16 commemoration in 2006. (Darren Sandras)