An inquiry into the passing of South African anti-apartheid hero Steve Biko has been reopened precisely 48 years later. Biko, inspired by the imprisoned iconic leader Nelson Mandela, spearheaded the fight against South Africa’s apartheid regime but succumbed to severe injuries inflicted by the police. He later gained global recognition. Singer Peter Gabriel honored him with the song ‘Biko’ in 1980, and in 1987, Hollywood star Denzel Washington portrayed him in the film Cry Freedom.
Biko’s son, Nkosinathi, emphasized the pursuit of truth rather than vengeance, as the implicated policemen are now elderly. The family has long sought a fresh inquiry, as the original ruling absolved anyone of responsibility for his demise.
Today’s inquiry was adjourned for further witness testimonies. The Mirror previously interviewed Biko’s son in 2017 and his partner, Mamphela Ramphele, in 2013, who was pregnant at the time of his death. Notably, the newspaper stood against apartheid in the 1970s.
Of the five officers involved in Biko’s death at age 30, two are still alive. Luxolo Tyali, the National Prosecuting Authority’s Regional spokesperson, affirmed that if substantial evidence surfaces, the officers could still face murder charges.
The tragic events leading to Biko’s death in 1977 sparked outrage globally, especially after the inquest ruled out any culpability. Mandela, who later became South Africa’s President, hailed Biko as a pivotal figure in the black struggle for justice, highlighting the government’s role in his demise.
Nkosinathi vividly recalls the day his father passed away and his mother’s emotional breakdown, believing even then that the police were responsible. The officers refused to acknowledge guilt during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, denying them immunity from prosecution.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi’s directive to reopen the case aligns with the government’s dedication to addressing unresolved politically motivated deaths from the apartheid era. The commitment to justice and accountability for affected families remains paramount.
The apartheid system’s oppressive racial policies claimed thousands of lives until its dissolution in 1990. The Mirror’s staunch opposition to apartheid differentiated it from other British publications, with strong editorials shedding light on the injustices faced by figures like Steve Biko.
The resurgence of the inquiry sheds light on the injustices of the past, serving as a beacon of hope for truth and closure for the Biko family and society at large.