Hector Pieterson Museum

The Hector Pieterson Museum is a memorial museum in Orlando West, Soweto, dedicated to the 1976 protests against apartheid education policies. Its rooms display photographs, objects, and documents that document this student movement.

The museum opened in 2002 and stands near the location where student Hector Pieterson was killed during the Soweto Uprising on June 16, 1976. That date marked a turning point in South African history and school reform.

The museum's name honors a student whose death became a symbol for an entire youth movement. The exhibitions feature personal stories and memories from people who were there and helped push for changes in South African education.

The museum sits two blocks from the memorial and is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Guided tours in multiple languages are available to help visitors understand the displays and their significance.

The museum holds the original photograph by Sam Nzima showing Mbuyisa Makhubo carrying the dying Hector Pieterson. This image became one of the most influential photographs in South African history and captured a moment that shocked the world.

GPS coordinates: -26.23480,27.90864

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:45