Steve Biko

Stephen Bantu Biko (December 18, 1946 - September 12 1977) was a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s. He helped found the South African Students' Organisation in 1968 and elected its first president, in 1972 he became honorary president of the Black People's Convention. He was banned during the height of apartheid in March 1973, meaning that he was not allowed to speak to more than one person at a time and so could not make speeches in public. It was also forbidden to quote anything he said, including speeches or simple conversations.

On September 6, 1977 he was arrested at a police roadblock. He suffered a major head injury around September 6th while in police custody. On September 11, police loaded him into the back of a car and began the 740-mile drive to another prison. He died en route.

On October 7, 2003, South African Justice Ministry officials announced that the five policemen who were accused of killing Biko would not be prosecuted because of insufficient evidence. They said a murder charge could not be supported partly because there were no witnesses to the killing. Charges of culpable homicide and assault were also considered, but because the killing occurred in 1977, the time frame for prosecution had expired. [1]

References in the arts:

• In 1980 Peter Gabriel released "Biko", a song protesting against Biko's death.
• In 1987 Richard Attenborough directed the movie Cry Freedom, a biographical drama about Biko. Gabriel's song was included in the film's soundtrack.
• In Star Trek: The Next Generation there is a starship named USS Biko.

• Address by Nelson Mandela on the 20th anniversary of Biko's death
• Steven Biko memorial page