South African Women's Women's Charter. For more information on women and the fight against apartheid take a look at: Women in the Apartheid Society by Fatima Meer and the ANC's Women's Struggle site.On June 16, 1976, 15,000 Black students in Soweto gathered at a local school to protested compulsory learning of Afrikaans in their classrooms. They were met by government troops and ordered to disband. Moments later the government forces opened fire killing two students and injuring many. This sparked riots and protest in Soweto and township across South Africa that lasted for twelve months with official numbers claiming 575 dead and 2,389 wounded.A year later, on August 18, 1977 Steven Biko, leader of the Black Consciousness movement was arrested by the South African police force where he was kept naked and shacked in his cell with no charges having been laid. On September 7 Biko was led into an interrogation cell where he was beaten by South African police officers. Biko was pronounced dead five days later. News of his death sparked outrage and protest around the world.In 1984 the South African government led by Prime Minister P.W. Botha, attempted constitutional reform meant to give Coloreds and Indians a voice in government by creating a three chamber legislature - one for each race. Blacks were excluded from this as they had their own "independent" homelands where they could, according to Botha, "exercise their rights." This amendment was accepted by the White population in a referendum. However, it was bitterly opposed by Black, Indian and Colored leaders and their people as being a symbolic gesture with little real power for non-whites. With the new constitutional amendment adopted, a new wave of political violence and unrest began. Protests and disturbances grew until P.W. Botha's government declared a state of emergency in June 1986...
