During the late 1970s, struggle veterans such as Winnie Mandela, Caleb Motshabi and Martha Mohlakoana exposed a young generation of Free State activists to the politics of the banned African National Congress and its underground networks. They included Thenge Moadira, Jani Mohapi, Gregory Nthatisi, Terror Lekota and Ace Magashule. During this time the political thinking, strategies and objectives of the young Free State activists were influenced by the Soweto uprisings and the Black Consciousness Movement. Their popular slogans were: “Liberation before education!” and “Equal education for all!”.
Multiple youth activist organisations were formed in Free State townships, including the Bloemfontein Student League, Botshabelo Youth Cultural Club, Botshabelo Youth Congress, Mangaung Cultural Youth Club and Mangaung Youth Congress in Mangaung and Botshabelo. The Mangaung student protests of 1976 and 1977 involved organising protest marches; displaying placards during marches; boycotting classes; using popular slogans as rallying cries; stoning and burning of school buildings and municipal-owned beerhalls and liquor stores; and targeting the hated school boards.
During July, August and September 1976, seven black schools and training institutions in Mangaung and Thaba Nchu participated in student protests in solidarity with the Soweto students. Free State students faced similar challenges, such as the compulsory use of Afrikaans; shortage of handbooks; overcrowded classrooms; and inadequate facilities. In 1977, a more intense wave of student protests hit Mangaung because these issues remained unresolved. Schools such as Lereko Secondary School and Sehunelo Secondary School in Batho, Marang Junior Secondary School and Maboloka Higher Primary School in Bochabela, and Ihobe Secondary School in Kagisanong became scenes of rioting during late August and early September 1977.
Isaac K. (Ike) Moroe, a photojournalist of The Friend, captured the unrest on film.
