Apartheid Exposed: Honouring South African Photographer Sam Nzima

Many of us were unaware of the troubling state of affairs occurring in South Africa under Apartheid rule until we were moved by the troubling and heart wrenching photo of dying Hector Pieterson, a 13-year-old shot by police during the June 16, 1976 Soweto uprising. A powerful image of Hector dying in the arms of Mbuyisa Nkita Makhubu, the 18 year old Student who carried him away from the scene while his heartbroken sister, Antoinette Sithole ran and cried painfully beside them. Pieterson was the first to die from police gunfire after Soweto students who were protesting an order that black students be taught in Afrikaans, the language of the white-minority rulers, were ordered to disperse.

That powerful and emotionally provoking photo was taken by South African photographer Sam Nzima who was honored at the Freedom Day celebrations in South Africa on April 27^th, 2011 by President Jacob Zuma.

In describing the photograph, Nzima pointedly declared that the photo “tells the story of what happened. You don’t even need a caption to see that something terrible has happened.” The imagery of Nzima’s photograph was so powerful that it helped to rally international support to topple the Apartheid regime. It also cultivated a state of fear for Nzima, who had to leave Johannesburg and seek refuge in a small eastern town in South Africa after it was published.

Nzima is receiving the Order of Ikhamanga, which recognizes South Africans who excel in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.

While many of the effects of Apartheid continues to haunt South Africa, they have come long way in overcoming what many thought was an unchangeable system. Individuals like Nzima are well deserved of the recognition and hour bestowed upon them for helping to demolish and overcome a grossly unjust and inhumane system.