A son of prominent South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko has told the BBC the family is confident a new inquest into his death 48 years ago will lead to the prosecution of those responsible.
Seen as a martyr in the struggle against white-minority rule, the Black Consciousness Movement founder died from a brain injury aged 30 almost a month after being arrested at a roadblock.
Police at the time claimed he had banged his head against a wall, but after apartheid ended in 1994, former officers admitted to assaulting him—although no one has been prosecuted.
Nkosinathi Biko, who was six when his father died, stated, It's very clear in our minds as to what happened and how they killed Steve Biko. He made these comments after the first hearing of the inquest at the High Court in Gqeberha on the anniversary of Biko's death.
The inquest revealed that Biko, who was subject to a banning order, was allegedly tortured by five policemen while in custody. Nkosinathi expressed his belief that a democratic court will find that Biko's murder was executed by the implicated officers.
As we delve into the historical context, it's important to note that Biko's death incited widespread outrage across South Africa and inspired the 1987 film Cry Freedom, starring Denzel Washington.
The judge has scheduled the case to continue on 12 November.
Nkosinathi remarked, You cannot have the trauma that we had, the flow of blood in the streets orchestrated by a state against a people, and then emerge with less than a handful of prosecutions. It is critical to confront these historical issues decisively to nurture a true democracy.
