Wits Art Museum Marks 50 Years Since 1976 Soweto Uprising

The Wits Art Museum in Braamfontein opens a powerful new exhibition this week. 1976 at 50 commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the Soweto uprising through photography and film.

Two Perspectives on a Pivotal Moment

The exhibition brings together two bodies of work that capture different angles of the 1976 student protests. Wits 76 is a photo essay by Paul Laufer, who served as Chief Photographer for the Wits Student newspaper during that turbulent year. His images document the events as they unfolded on the ground.

Alongside Laufer's photographs, the museum presents Silent Witness, a short film by independent South African filmmaker Kevin Harris. The film offers another lens through which to understand the uprising and its lasting impact on our society.

Why This Anniversary Matters

16 June 2026 marks exactly fifty years since thousands of Soweto students took to the streets to protest the forced use of Afrikaans in schools. The police response turned peaceful demonstrations into a watershed moment for the anti apartheid struggle. Hundreds died in the violence that followed.

The exhibition uses art to help us reflect on what happened then and what it means for us today. The images remind us that history is not just dates in textbooks. It is people, choices, and consequences that still shape our present.

About the Wits Art Museum

Wits Art Museum holds one of the most significant collections of African art in the country. With over 18 000 works ranging from historic pieces to contemporary creations, the museum has built a reputation for thoughtful exhibitions that spark conversation.

The museum sits on Jan Smuts Avenue in Braamfontein, making it easy to reach from across Johannesburg. Its programming regularly addresses social and political themes relevant to South African life.

Practical Details

Exhibition dates: 19 May to 20 June 2026

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm

Venue: Wits Art Museum, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Braamfontein

Admission: Free

Contact: 011 717 1358 or info.wam@wits.ac.za

Parking: Available near the museum

The 1976 at 50 exhibition offers a chance to engage with our history through the eyes of those who documented it. Whether you remember that year or are learning about it for the first time, these photographs and films provide a direct connection to one of the most important moments in South African history.