South Africa to Reopen Inquest into Death of Anti-Apartheid Icon Steve Biko
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – South African authorities have announced the reopening of an inquest into the 1977 death of Steve Biko, the anti-apartheid activist whose brutal treatment in police custody sparked international outrage and became a symbol of the struggle against racial segregation. The decision, made 48 years after Biko’s death, comes amid increasing pressure for accountability regarding past atrocities committed during the apartheid era.
The move is the latest in a series of investigations launched to re-examine high-profile deaths from that period, reflecting a renewed effort to confront the legacy of apartheid and provide closure for victims’ families. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently established an inquiry into potential interference by past ANC governments in investigations of apartheid-era crimes, responding to criticism from families seeking justice.The inquest into Biko’s death will seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding his demise and whether the actions of police officials contributed to his death.
Biko, a founder of the Black consciousness Movement, died on September 12, 1977, while in police detention. Authorities initially claimed his death was due to a hunger strike, but evidence later revealed he suffered severe head injuries while being interrogated. His case drew global condemnation and inspired Peter Gabriel’s anthem “Biko” and the Richard Attenborough film “Cry Freedom.”
The reopening of the inquest follows similar actions regarding other apartheid-era cases, including a recent inquest into the 1985 deaths of the “Cradock Four,” who were killed by security officers at a roadblock. The investigations aim to address long-standing grievances and provide a measure of justice for those affected by the systemic violence and oppression of the apartheid regime. The outcome of the Biko inquest could lead to further investigations and potential prosecutions of individuals implicated in his death.
