Ahmed Kathrada Fundraiser: Rise 76: The Story of June 16th

Commissioned by The Market Theatre and The Baxter Theatre to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprisings, Rise ’76: The Story of June 16th is a gripping new work by two-time Fleur du Cap award-winning playwright-director Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni.

Set in the fictional Molefe Secondary School in Soweto, the play follows students, teachers, and families confronting the devastating implications of Afrikaans being imposed as a medium of instruction. What begins as an ordinary school day unfolds into a moment that will irrevocably shape South African history.

Drawing on testimonies from more than 40 individuals, alongside archival material, literature, and public record, Rise ’76 reimagines June 16 not simply as a protest, but as a lived and deeply human experience marked by courage, fear, resistance, and collective awakening.

This special performance forms part of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s fundraising efforts, with proceeds supporting our ongoing work to advance non-racialism, constitutional values, and active citizenship.