the Afrikaans Medium Decree of 1974 made it compulsory that from January 1st 1975 Afrikaans had to be used for mathematics, arithmetic, and social studies from grade 7 onwards. English would be used for general science and subjects like homecraft, needlework, woodwork, metalwork, art or agricultural science. Home languages would only be used for religious studies, music, and physical culture. 98% of young Sowetans did not want to be taught in Afrikaans. Afrikaans was closely associated with the oppresive National Party so naturally they did not like the language.
The Black youth were protesting because they were being forced to learn subjects in Afrikaans. The reason Afrikaans was forced on the black youth was to impose some Afrikaans culture into black peoples lives. However, black school children did not want to learn or speak the language of their oppressors. It was a difficult tongue to understand and to grasp. Afrikaans was not their home language and many of the teachers did not understand Afrikaans and could not teach using it. The Situation was hopeless and a revolt was bound to occur. The Bantu Education Act and the Afrikaans language frustrated and angered the Black youth and this is the primary reason behind the Soweto riots.
The Black Consciousness movement was a philosophy to bring out pride and confidence in the black population. It was formed by Steve Biko and other students. They wanted black people to be proud of their heritage and culture. The Black consciousness movement wanted to unite black people in the protest against apartheid. There were many groups within the Black consciousness movement such as the South African Students Association, and the SASM. The SASM organised a boycott of the June exams and organised the protest march. The Black Consciousness movement did have a role in the Soweto Riots as they helped organise the protest and brought black people together but it was not the primary influence as some kind of resistance was imminent because of the nature of the new education system imposed in January 1975.
The Banned ANC also had an influence in the reasons behind the Soweto riots. Soweto youth leaders made contact with some ANC leaders. The ANC underground distributed pamphlets which brought the black people together and encouraged resistance. Another cause of the Soweto uprising was the rise of worker militancy. South Africans had learned what could be achieved by mass action and confrontations from the 1973 strikes.
Some sort of Riot or revolt was to be expected when the new education system of January 1975 was enforced. Afrikaans was considered the language of the oppressors and it was a language spoken by a tiny portion of the population. The black consciousness movement had an involvement in planning the protest but it was not the primary influence. The Soweto riots was very successful because it got International involvement and it brought about the eventual abolishment of the Apartheid system.