A Personal Reflection by Cynthia “Bushy” Chishimba (née Phoko)

A Message to the Youth of Today

I hope that my story and reflection will inspire the youth of today to appreciate the sacrifices made by previous generations and to recognise the power they hold to shape the future of our nation.
Growing Up in Rockville, Soweto.

My name is Cynthia “Bushy” Chishimba (née Phoko), and these are my personal memories of the June 16, 1976 Soweto Uprising.

I was born and raised in Rockville Township, Soweto, and although I was still a young primary school learner at the time, the events of that historic day and the months that followed remain as clear in my mind today as if they happened yesterday.

In our street lived a gentleman whom we all affectionately called Abuti Selby. In the weeks leading up to the uprising, I often saw groups of people gathering at his house or coming to fetch him.
As a child, I never understood what was happening. It was only years later that I realised those meetings were part of the planning for what would become one of the most significant moments in South Africa’s liberation struggle.