South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has announced the reopening of the inquest into the death of anti-apartheid icon Steve Biko, nearly five decades after he died in police custody under suspicious circumstances.
The inquest will be formally enrolled on Friday – exactly 48 years to the day since Biko’s death in a Pretoria hospital following alleged torture by apartheid-era security forces.
NPA regional spokesperson for Eastern Cape province Luxolo Tyali said in a statement on Thursday that the move followed approval by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.
“The reopening of the inquest follows the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development’s approval of the National Director of Public Prosecutions’ request, which was supported by the legal representatives of the Biko family,” Tyali said.
Biko, founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, was arrested on 18 August 1977 at a roadblock near Grahamstown (now Makhanda) for violating banning orders that restricted his movement to King Williamstown (Qonce).
He was detained at Walmer Police Station in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), where he was allegedly tortured while shackled and kept naked in a cell.
Medical attention was only sought after 24 days in custody when foam was observed around his mouth.
On 11 September 1977, Biko – unconscious, naked and still shackled – was transported over 1,200 kilometres to a prison hospital in Pretoria.
He died the following day at age 30. His death was attributed to extensive brain damage, acute kidney failure and uraemia.
A formal inquest held later that year accepted the police Special Branch’s claim that Biko had injured himself during a scuffle.
No one was prosecuted, and medical personnel involved were exonerated.
In 1997, five senior Special Branch officers applied for amnesty before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, admitting to fabricating their accounts and submitting false affidavits.
Their applications were denied due to contradictory testimony and lack of political motive.
The NPA said the reopened inquest aims to present new evidence that could determine whether Biko’s death resulted from acts or omissions that constitute a criminal offence.
