ON THIS DAY!

1977: Steve Biko dies in custody

Born on December 18, 1946 Stephen Bantu Biko was an anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. A student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population.

 

The leader of the black consciousness movement in South Africa, Steve Biko, has died in police custody.

The 30-year-old's death was confirmed by the commissioner of police, General Gert Prinsloo, today.

It is understood Mr Biko died in hospital in Pretoria. The government minister of Justice and Police, James Kruger, stated that Mr Biko had been transferred 740 miles (1,191 km) from Port Elizabeth to Pretoria for medical attention following a seven-day hunger strike. 

Mr Biko had been in custody since 18 August when he was arrested and detained under the Terrorism Act. He is the 20th person to die in custody during the past 18 months.Steve Biko's death caused outrage in South Africa and almost immediately doubt was cast over the alleged cause of his death.

Newspaper editor Donald Woods, and close friend of Biko's, accused the Minister of Justice and Police James Kruger of being directly responsible for the death.
Two weeks later preliminary results from a post Morten examination revealed Biko had died from severe brain damage.
His funeral was attended by more than 15,000 mourners. Thousands more were barred from going by security forces. Twelve Western countries sent representatives to the service, which was conducted by the Right Reverend Desmond Tutu.
Biko's contribution to the black fight for freedom from apartheid is often placed as second only to that of former President Nelson Mandela.
The inquest into his death in November 1977 cleared the police of any wrong-doing.
But after the election of the ANC Government in 1994, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was set up under Archbishop Desmond Tutu, denied an amnesty to five policemen who admitted being involved in his death, although they have never been prosecuted.
The Commission found that Biko's death was as a direct result of the injuries he sustained in custody.
His life story was dramatized in the film Cry Freedom.

 

He was also instrumental in setting up several community groups including the Zimele Trust Fund in 1975, which helped political prisoners and their families, and the Ginsberg Educational Trust, to assist black students.
In January of this year he was made honorary president of the BCP.
An inquest into his death is not to be held for several months, according to the authorities.
Mr Biko leaves a wife and two children.