The day, celebrated as Youth Day, came to mark a turning point in South Africa's march to democracy, and would spark countrywide protests against the apartheid government.
In a picture that widely became synonymous with the uprising, a 17-year-old Antoinette is seen running next to Mbuyisa Makhubo who is carrying the body of her brother, Hector Pieterson, after he was killed by apartheid police on 16 June 1976.
Mama Antoinette said it was a pity people only remember the Soweto uprising once a year, and things have improved "50-50" since the death of her brother, but that people cannot give up hope.
He said people remember the day as a battle between guns from the police and rocks from pupils, but the pupils were actually fighting with their books.
Max du Preez was a young journalist at Afrikaans newspaper Beeld when he was called out to cover the events on 16 June.
