Tubby Reddy hopes young people are inspired by students who protested in Soweto in 1978 ©Getty Images

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) chief executive Tubby Reddy has called upon young people in the country to be inspired by those killed in the Soweto uprising in 1976 and seek excellence.

Around 20,000 students were estimated to have taken part in protests in the South African city on June 16, 1976, in order to protest against the education they were receiving under Apartheid in the country.

Officially, 176 people were killed, but it is estimated that the real figure was closer to 700.

But the action was seen as crucial to inspiring students across the country to demand change and was credited with helping to bring an end to Apartheid rule.

Reddy reflected on the protests after the 40th anniversary of the uprising, with the day now a public holiday throughout the country.

“The actions of the students during the protests in Soweto in 1976 which spread throughout the country, was a timely reminder that Apartheid and all its manifestations were contrary to normal human relations and development,” said Reddy.

“It gave renewed impetus and momentum to many of us in the sports movement who strongly believed that there could be no normal sport in an abnormal society.

“We owe the students of 1976 tremendous gratitude and at the same time pay tribute to the many young people who were brutally cut down by the apartheid forces, as a country we lost many young people whose talents and skills could have been demonstrated on the global stage.

“We call on the youth of today to take up the baton of the fallen of 1976 who inspired all of us, and to aspire to excellence in all spheres, including sports.”

The 40th anniversary of the uprising was marked across South Africa on June 16
The 40th anniversary of the uprising was marked across South Africa on June 16 ©Getty Images

SASCOC President Gideon Sam paid tribute to late South African President Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013.

Sam also stated that he was confident that the “sacrifice, unity and dedication” of the protestors back in 1976 is deeply ingrained into the South African team as they prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We pay tribute to those young people, a generation, that inspired many of us in the sports movement to intensify our struggle for change in the country,” Sam said.

“The actions of those students compelled us to work tirelessly, in the face of tremendous challenges, to overcome and defeat apartheid.

“It is only fitting that their sacrifices are today acknowledged and celebrated as it eventually brought about change in our country.”