Steve Biko: The African Revolutionary, Why was he Killed?

Summary

The video script chronicles the life of Bantu Steve Biko, a pivotal figure in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. Born in 1946, Biko's intelligence and charisma propelled him to leadership, founding organizations like SASO and BPC that championed black consciousness and self-determination. Despite facing government persecution, including a banning order and imprisonment, Biko's philosophy inspired the 1976 Soweto uprising and continues to resonate. Tragically, his fight for justice ended with his death in police custody in 1977, a martyr's legacy that galvanized international opposition to apartheid.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bantu Steve Biko was a prominent leader in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and a significant figure in black liberation.
• 🏠 Born in 1946, Biko's father, a policeman and clerk, passed away when he was young, leaving his mother to raise the family on her own.
• 🎓 Known for his intelligence, Biko excelled academically, skipping a grade and later attending Forbes Grant and Lovedale, where he was exposed to political activism.
• 🔍 Biko was involved in the establishment of SASO (South African Students' Organization) and BPC (Black People's Convention), which were pivotal in the Black Consciousness Movement.
• 🌟 The Black Consciousness Movement emphasized self-worth, dignity, and pride among black South Africans, countering the inferiority complex imposed by apartheid.
• 🚫 Apartheid laws enforced racial segregation and limited opportunities for black South Africans, including in education and skilled jobs.
• 📚 Biko's academic career suffered due to his political activism, leading to his expulsion from the University of Natal's medical school.
• 🛡 Biko was banned by the apartheid government, restricting his movement and activities, but he continued his work in defiance of these restrictions.
• 💔 Biko died in police custody in 1977 after being detained and tortured, becoming a symbol of the struggle against apartheid and state brutality.
• 🌍 His death sparked international outrage, leading to increased pressure on South Africa to end apartheid and a global call for justice.
• 🗣️ The Truth and Reconciliation Commission later denied amnesty to those involved in Biko's death, acknowledging the political nature of his assassination.

Q & A

Who was Bantu Steve Biko?

Bantu Steve Biko was a prominent leader in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, known for his role in inspiring a generation of black South Africans to claim their identity and resist oppression.

When and where was Steve Biko born?

Steve Biko was born in King William's Town in the Eastern Province, now Eastern Cape, South Africa, on 18th September 1946.

What significant event occurred during Biko's childhood that influenced his political views?

The significant event was the arrest and subsequent expulsion of Biko from Lovedale, a prestigious boarding school, due to his brother's alleged involvement with a banned organization, which inculcated a strong resentment towards white authority.

What was the role of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) in Biko's life?

NUSAS was an organization that Biko was initially involved with, but he eventually became disillusioned due to its failure to represent the needs of black students, leading him to found the South African Students' Organization (SASO).

What was the Black Consciousness Movement and how did Steve Biko contribute to it?

The Black Consciousness Movement was a philosophy and political stance that Biko helped develop, focusing on liberating the minds of black people from the inferior status imposed by apartheid, promoting self-worth, and recognizing the inherent dignity of black individuals.

What was the impact of the Black Consciousness Movement on South Africa's political landscape?

The Black Consciousness Movement played a pivotal role in the 1976 Soweto Uprising and became a formidable political force, spreading across campuses and communities, advocating for self-determination and resistance against apartheid.

How did the apartheid government respond to the rise of the Black Consciousness Movement?

The apartheid government responded with repression, banning leaders like Steve Biko and restricting their movements and activities, ultimately leading to Biko's arrest, torture, and death.

What was the significance of the Black People's Convention (BPC) founded by Biko?

The BPC served as an umbrella organization for the Black Consciousness Movement, aiming to unite black South Africans under a common cause and address the broader issues of inequality and oppression beyond the university campuses.

What was the official explanation given by the South African government for Steve Biko's death?

The South African government initially claimed that Biko died after a seven-day hunger strike, but this was later debunked during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings.

How did Steve Biko's death affect the international perception of apartheid South Africa?

Biko's death highlighted the brutality of South Africa's security laws and led to international condemnation, prompting Western countries to support United Nations sanctions, including an arms embargo against the apartheid government.

What was the outcome of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's investigation into Steve Biko's death?

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission found that Biko was killed by police officers, but it refused to grant them amnesty because they failed to establish a political motive for their actions.

Outlines

00:00

🇿🇦 The Life and Tragedy of Steve Biko

The first paragraph introduces Steve Biko as a key figure in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, detailing his untimely death in police detention and his profound impact on the struggle for black liberation. Born in 1946, Biko's early life was marked by his father's pursuit of a law degree and his own academic excellence. Despite apartheid's oppressive policies, Biko emerged as a prominent leader, advocating for black identity and resistance against systemic oppression. His influence extended beyond university campuses, inspiring a generation to claim their identity and resist apartheid's dehumanizing effects.

05:02

📚 Steve Biko's Education and Political Awakening

This section delves into Biko's educational journey, from his expulsion from Lovedale for political activism to his matriculation at Saint Francis College and subsequent enrollment in medicine at the University of Natal. Biko's political consciousness was shaped by the racial segregation and discrimination he witnessed, leading him to challenge the multiracial approach of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS). His disillusionment with NUSAS culminated in the founding of the South African Students' Organization (SASO), which aimed to empower black students and address their unique struggles within the apartheid regime.

10:03

🌟 The Rise of the Black Consciousness Movement

The third paragraph highlights the emergence of the Black Consciousness Movement, spearheaded by Steve Biko and SASO. The movement sought to instill pride and dignity in black South Africans, countering the inferiority complex imposed by apartheid. Biko's philosophy emphasized the importance of mental liberation as a precursor to broader social and political change. The movement gained momentum, extending its influence to various sectors of society, including the pivotal role it played in the 1976 Soweto Uprising, which further intensified the fight for liberation.

15:04

🚫 State Repression and Biko's Persecution

This paragraph discusses the apartheid government's response to the growing influence of the Black Consciousness Movement, particularly focusing on the state's repression of Steve Biko and other leaders. Biko was banned, restricting his movements and activities, which significantly impacted his personal life and work. Despite these restrictions, Biko continued his activism, leading to further state harassment and eventual imprisonment. The paragraph culminates in Biko's brutal death in police custody, which sparked international outrage and intensified the global call for justice in South Africa.

20:04

🕊️ Biko's Legacy and the Quest for Justice

The final paragraph reflects on Steve Biko's enduring legacy as a champion of resistance and self-determination in the face of apartheid. It recounts the aftermath of his death, including the official inquest, riots, and the global movement for justice. Biko's death became a symbol of the struggle against apartheid, influencing international policies and galvanizing the fight for freedom. The paragraph concludes with the revelation of the truth about Biko's death during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, highlighting the ongoing pursuit of justice and the indelible mark Biko left on history.

Keywords

💡Apartheid

Apartheid refers to the policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government between 1948 and the early 1990s. It was characterized by systematic racial hierarchy, where rights and privileges were racially stratified. In the video, apartheid is the oppressive backdrop against which Steve Biko and the anti-apartheid struggle took place, and it is the system that Biko's activism sought to dismantle.

💡Steve Biko

Steve Biko was a South African anti-apartheid activist and a leading figure in the Black Consciousness Movement. He is a central figure in the video, with his life, philosophy, and tragic death serving as the narrative's focal point. Biko's influence extended beyond his generation, inspiring many to resist apartheid and claim their identity.

💡Black Liberation

Black Liberation in the context of the video refers to the struggle for freedom and equality of black South Africans under the oppressive apartheid regime. It is a key theme of the video, as it encapsulates the goals and aspirations of Steve Biko and the movements he was involved in, such as SASO and BPC.

💡Black Consciousness Movement

The Black Consciousness Movement is a political and social ideology that Biko helped pioneer, emphasizing the importance of self-respect, dignity, and pride for black people in South Africa. The movement sought to counter the psychological effects of apartheid and is a significant part of Biko's legacy as depicted in the video.

💡Soweto Uprising

The Soweto Uprising refers to the 1976 student-led protests against the compulsory use of Afrikaans in schools, which was seen as a tool of cultural oppression. The uprising is mentioned in the video as a pivotal event in South Africa's history, which was influenced by the ideas of the Black Consciousness Movement, including those of Biko.

💡Bantu Homelands

Bantu Homelands, also known as Bantustans, were territories within South Africa designated for black people to live in under apartheid policy. The video discusses how black South Africans were forcibly relocated to these areas, which were intended to be separate political entities, as part of the divide and rule strategy of the apartheid government.

💡NUSAS

The National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) was a multi-racial student organization. The video describes Biko's disillusionment with NUSAS due to its failure to adequately represent the needs of black students, leading to the founding of SASO as an alternative.

💡SASO

The South African Students' Organization (SASO) was founded by Biko and others as a response to the perceived inadequacies of NUSAS. It was a key part of the Black Consciousness Movement and is highlighted in the video as an organization that sought to empower black students and address their specific needs.

💡BPC

The Black People's Convention (BPC) was an organization founded by Biko to extend the reach of the Black Consciousness Movement beyond university campuses. The BPC aimed to unite black South Africans in the struggle against apartheid, as discussed in the video.

💡Political Activism

Political activism in the video is portrayed through Biko's involvement in various organizations and his role in advocating for the rights of black South Africans. It is a central theme that illustrates Biko's commitment to challenging the status quo and fighting for social justice.

💡Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established in South Africa after the end of apartheid to uncover the truth about human rights violations that occurred during this period. The video mentions the TRC in relation to the revelation of the circumstances surrounding Biko's death, highlighting its role in the pursuit of justice and healing.

Highlights

Bantu Steve Biko was a prominent leader in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa.

Biko's death on September 12, 1977, was a significant blow to the anti-apartheid movement.

Steve Biko was born in King William's Town, Eastern Cape, on September 18, 1946.

Biko's father was an intelligent man who aspired to be a lawyer but died when Biko was only four.

Steve Biko was known for his exceptional intelligence and was promoted to Standard 5 due to his academic abilities.

Biko attended Forbes Grant and excelled in mathematics and English, completing his Junior Certificate at the age of 16.

Apartheid laws limited education and opportunities for black South Africans, enforcing racial segregation and inequality.

Steve Biko was offered a bursary to attend Lovedale, a prestigious boarding school, where he was exposed to political activism.

Biko's experiences with racial segregation and the expulsion of his brother influenced his political views and activism.

After being expelled from Lovedale, Biko enrolled at Saint Francis College, where he continued to develop his political consciousness.

Biko was elected to the Student Representative Council at the University of Natal and became involved in the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS).

Biko and his colleagues founded the South African Students' Organization (SASO) in 1969, focusing on black consciousness and self-representation.

SASO addressed the inferiority complex among black students and became a formidable political force on campuses.

The Black Consciousness Movement, inspired by Biko, encouraged blacks to recognize their inherent dignity and self-worth.

Biko founded the Black People's Convention (BPC) in 1972 as an umbrella organization for the Black Consciousness Movement.

Steve Biko's philosophy of Black Consciousness focused on liberating the minds of black people from the inferior status imposed by apartheid.

Biko was banned by the apartheid government in 1973, restricting his movements and political activities.

Despite being banned, Biko continued his work with the Black Community Programs and founded the Zimeli Trust Fund in 1975.

Steve Biko was detained and tortured by the apartheid police in August 1977, leading to his death on September 12, 1977.

Biko's death sparked international outrage and led to a global movement demanding justice for him and other victims of apartheid.

The Truth and Reconciliation Committee in 1997 heard testimonies about Biko's death, but refused amnesty for his killers due to lack of political motive.

Transcripts

on 12 september 1977 the anti-apartheid

struggle in south africa was dealt a

heavy blow due to the death of bantu

steve biko a popular voice of black

liberation in south africa between the

mid-1960s until his death in police

detention in 1977.

biko was one of the most prominent

leaders in the anti-apartheid struggle

and in some quarters he was seen as the

most important black south african

leader of his generation

he was so important in fact that the

apartheid government was terrified of

him

bantu steve biko inspired a generation

of black south africans to claim their

true identity and refused to be part of

their own oppression

unfortunately steve bicol paid the

ultimate price with his life

in this episode of african biographics

we look at the life and legacy of steve

biko one of the stalwarts of the

anti-apartheid struggle in south africa

the man known to history as bantu steve

biko was born in thailand in the eastern

province now eastern cape on 18th

september 1946. he was the third child

of the late muzingania matthew and alice

nokuzola

worked as a policeman and later as a

clerk in the king williamstown native

affairs office

steve biko's father zingai was a very

intelligent man and he was enrolled at

the university of south africa the

distance learning university to get his

law degree

unfortunately he did not complete enough

courses to get his law degree before he

died

in 1948 when steve was just two years

old the family moved to ginsburg

township just outside of king

williamstown in today's eastern cape

the beakers eventually owned their house

in zahula street in the brownie section

of ginsburg this was despite nokuswala's

mega income as a domestic worker

steve's father zengaye died suddenly in

1950 when the boy was only four years

old and his mother subsequently raised

the children on her own working as a

cook at grace hospital as steve bieker

was growing up his friends knew him as a

joker his primary school teacher

remembered him as a naughty boy who was

always barefoot

this was the same teacher that

recommended that steve skip skipper

grade and be promoted to standard 5

because of his exceptional intelligence

although his friends never saw him study

he was one of the brightest kids in the

class and you would help the other kids

grasp complex concepts taught in class

steve passed standard 6 in 1959 and in

1960 he went on to forbes grant a school

through which many passed to become

prominent figures in post-apartheid

south africa

while at forbes grant steve excelled in

mathematics and english and in 1962 at

the age of 16 steve biko completed his

junior certificate

now here's the thing steve bico was

growing up in apartheid south africa and

life was difficult for black people

because of this system

apartheid officially became a way of

life in south africa in 1948 when the

africana national party came into power

after heavily promoting the racially

stratified system

under apartheid south africans were

categorized into four racial groups and

these were the bantus who were the south

african natives the colored group the

white people and then the asians

apartheid limited the education the

bantu received because apartheid laws

reserved skilled jobs for white people

exclusively black people were trained in

schools to perform manual and

agricultural labor but not for skilled

trades despite being natives of south

africa the black people in the country

were relegated to 10 bantu homelands

after the passage of the promotion of

bantu south government act of 1959.

the purpose of the law seemed to be

divide and rule by splitting up the

black population the bantu could not

form a single political unit in south

africa and wrestle control from the

white minority

from 1961 to 1994 more than 3.5 million

people were forcibly moved from their

homes and placed in the bantu stands

where they were plunged into poverty and

hopelessness

during apartheid black people were

required to carry past books at all

times to allow them entry into public

spaces reserved for white people this

was the overall context in which steve

biko was growing up and navigating life

as a young man

in 1964 young steve was offered a

bursary to join his brother kaya as a

student at lovedale a prestigious

boarding school in alice eastern cape

at the time political attention at

lovedale was rife steve arrived at the

school soon after tabon becky a future

south african president had been

expelled following strikes by students

the same fate of expulsion was going to

before steve later

in april of 1964 steve was taken into

custody by the police who came to the

school to arrest his brother kaya

kaya was suspected of being involved

with an organization called poco the

armed wing of the pan-african east

congress the pac an african nationalist

group which the government had banned

the police took both brothers to king

williamstown which was 60 kilometers

away and kaya biko was charged he was

given a sentence of two years with 15

months suspended and he served his term

at fort glamorgan jail near east london

steve biko was released and returned

home

despite there not being any clear

evidence of steve's connection to porco

he was expelled from lovedale

this incident inculcated in steve a

strong resentment towards white

authority which would shape his

political career

after being expelled from high school

for political activism steve biko

enrolled at saint francis college a

liberal boarding school in natal

province the college of the liberal

political culture and biko developed his

political consciousness there

while attending the school he became

particularly interested in the

replacement of south africa's white

minority colonial government with an

administration that represented the

country's black majority

after matriculating from saint francis

with very good grades steve biko went on

to register for a degree in medicine at

the black section of the medical school

of the university of natal in 1966.

steve lived in the allen taylor

residence the segregated living quarters

for black students at natal university

very early in his time at the university

he showed an expansive search for

knowledge that far exceeded his own

medicine degree ending up as one of the

most prominent student leaders on campus

the black section of this university had

its own students representative council

which was a member of the national union

of south african students nusas

steve was elected to the src in his

first year and he became involved in

nusa's politics attending the annual

news conference for the first time

but even before he went to the

conference he was engaging in debates

about the role of nurses

news had taken pains to cultivate a

multi-racial membership but it remained

quite dominant simply because the

majority of south africa's university

students were from the country's white

minority

steve biko felt that nusas failed to

represent the needs of black students

and the following is a glaring example

of this

in the news conference of 1967 after the

students arrived they found that

dormitory accommodation had been

arranged for the white and indian

delegates but not for the black africans

who were told they could sleep in a

local church

so appalling were the conditions that it

showed the black students just how

valued they were in the organization the

students were indeed fed and housed

separately in accordance with the

separate amenities act the separate

amenities act enforced segregation on

all public facilities including

buildings and transport in order to

limit contact between the different

races in south africa

this act also stated that the facilities

for different races did not need to be

equal in practice then the best

facilities were reserved for the white

population while those for the other

races were inferior

at this particular nusas conference the

black students including steve biko were

aggrieved at this treatment

steve biko later related that this event

forced him to rethink his belief in the

multiracial approach to political

activism

deeply dissatisfied with nuisance the

now disillusioned steve bico along with

several of his colleagues founded the

south african students organization

sasel

steve biko was elected the first

president of this organization in its

inaugural congress held at teflop in

1969.

sasso was born out of the frustrations

of black students encountered within the

liberal and multiracial organization

nusas

sasso's clarion core was for black

students to refrain from being

spectators in a game in which they were

ought to be participants

sasso's primary engagement was to

address the inferiority complex that was

the mainstay of passiveness within the

ranks of black students

it was not long before sasso became the

most formidable political force

spreading to campuses around the country

and beyond

sasha was involved in providing legal

aid and medical clinics as well as

helping to develop cottage industries

for disadvantaged black communities

inspired by steve biko's growing legacy

the youth of the country at high school

level also mobilized themselves into a

movement that became known as the south

african students movement this movement

would play a pivotal role in the 1976

soweto uprising which accelerated the

course of the liberation struggle

during this period steve biko and sasso

started sowing the seeds of the black

consciousness movement this philosophy

encouraged blacks to recognize their

inherent dignity and self-worth but our

touch on the black consciousness

movement in just a bit

from around 1970 sasso's leaders were

beginning to consider the limitations of

organizations that were confined to just

student members following these

considerations the idea of a broader

community formation took root one which

would result in the launch of the black

people's convention the bpc

so in 1972 steve biko founded the bpc as

an umbrella organization for the black

consciousness movement which had begun

sweeping through universities across the

nation

steve bico was instrumental in the

development and formation of a core saso

project the black workers project which

was co-sponsored by the black community

programs for which steve biko worked at

the time

the black community programs addressed

the problems of black workers whose

unions were not yet recognized by the

law

as all of this was happening on the

academic side steve biko initially did

well in his university studies but his

grades gradually declined as he devoted

increasing time to political activism

six years after starting his degree he

found himself repeating his third year

of studies so in 1972 as a result of his

poor academic performance the university

of natal barred him from further study

after being excluded from medical school

in 1972 steve bicol joined the bcp at

their durban offices the bcp engaged in

a number of community-based projects and

published a yearly journal called the

back review which provided an analysis

of political trends in the country

having given up on the idea of becoming

a doctor steve bico enrolled for various

courses at the distance learning

university unisa and in 1973 he began

studying law and political science

subjects that were more relevant to his

political involvement

bantu steve because political activism

and engagement was underpinned by a

philosophy which was to be known as the

black consciousness movement

steve becker's experiences under

apartheid drove his philosophy and

political activism growing up he had

witnessed political raids during his

childhood and lived through the

brutality and intimidation the apartheid

government was known for and so his

philosophy of black consciousness

focused primarily on liberating the

minds of black people who had been

relegated to an inferior status by white

power structures

the black consciousness movement viewed

the liberation of the mind as a primary

weapon in the fight for freedom in south

africa defining black consciousness as

first being an inward looking process

where black people regain the pride

stripped away from them by the apartheid

system

in one of his many famous quotes steve

biko said the first step therefore is to

make the black man to come to himself to

pump back life into his empty shell to

infuse him with pride and dignity to

remind him of his complicity in the

crime of allowing himself to be misused

and therefore letting evil reign supreme

in the country of his birth this is the

definition of black consciousness

according to steve biko a necessary step

towards restoring dignity to black

people entailed elevating the heroes of

african history and promoting african

heritage to deconstruct the idea of

africa being the dark continent

black consciousness sought to extract

the positive values within indigenous

african cultures and make them a

standard with which black people judge

themselves

this would then be the first form of

resistance towards imperialism and

apartheid

in apartheid south africa black

consciousness aimed to unite citizens

under the main cause of their operation

steve biko's charisma flowed outside of

the university campuses and the black

consciousness movement became a

phenomenon throughout the country of

south africa

the black consciousness movement was

becoming a presence in the country and

not only at tertiary institutions it was

visible in the media at schools and at

community theaters

now as you can probably imagine this

movement did not go down well with the

apartheid government and so they

retaliated

initially the apartheid government did

not see black consciousness as a real

threat rather the appointed state

believed that this philosophy of black

people working on their own fitted well

with his own philosophy of separate

development which was embedded in his

policy of apartheid

however as sasso's membership swelled

and other black consciousness

organization grew in support the

apartheid state began to crack down on

steve biko and other leaders of the

black consciousness movement

in 1973 eight black consciousness

leaders including steve biko were banned

this meant that for five years they were

restricted to the area in which they

lived and could not speak to or meet

with more than one person at a time this

prevented them from attending political

meetings and rallies the government gave

no reason for these bannings but it was

clear that they hoped to crush the black

consciousness movement by the end of

1973 more leaders had been banned and

some placed under house arrest

steve biko was confined to the district

of king williamstown and he returned to

ginsberg and moved for a while into his

mother's house the address to which he

was restricted by his banning order

with steve working for the black

community programs earning a stipend the

family relied on the income of his wife

in sikhi who had been the main bread

winner for some time but with the

family's move to ginsburg the apartheid

authorities ensured that ninsiki would

not easily find a job and the family

struggled to make ends meet it was not

long before his burning order was

amended to restrict him from any

association with the bcp and the office

that he had established in ginsburg

despite his banning the bcp office that

he established did well managing amongst

other achievements to build a clinic and

the crash both of which were very

popular with the people

steve biko was also instrumental in the

founding of the zimeli trust fund in

1975 which was set to assist political

prisoners and their families

however the state security operators

repeatedly sought to intimidate him

steve biko used to receive anonymous

threatening phone calls and gunshots

were regularly fired at his house as a

result a group of young men calling

themselves the cubans began guarding him

from these attacks

the security services detained him four

times once for more than a hundred days

unfortunately for bantu steve biko his

days were numbered and he was about to

meet a brutal death at the hands of the

apartheid regime

black consciousness inspired many

students in soweto to take decisive

action against their own oppression

after the soweto uprising of 1976 which

began as a protest against the

government's insistence that the

afrikaans language be used as the medium

of instruction in soweto's high schools

black consciousness was systematically

targeted

steve biko being considered as the

father of the black consciousness

movement exacerbated this situation as

you often ignore these banning orders in

order to address crowds and to continue

his work in the movement

on 17 august 1977 steve biko left port

elizabeth and traveled with a man by the

name peter jones to the western cape to

attend a meeting on their way back they

were stopped at a rod block and were

detained this happened on the 21st of

august 1977.

steve biko was held at the eastern city

of port elizabeth where he was violently

tortured and interrogated he was

imprisoned on charges of terrorism

by the 11th of september he was found

naked and chained to a prison cell door

he died in a hospital cell the following

day as a result of brain injuries

sustained at the hands of the police

bantu steve biko was only 30 years old

the south african minister of police

announced that he died after a seven-day

hunger strike

an official inquest into beaker's death

despite evidence to the contrary stated

that his death could not have been

brought about by any act or omission

involving an offence by any person

riots ensued in the aftermath of this

statement and a few students were killed

in the protest

15 000 people showed up to biko's

funeral including foreign dignitaries

african diplomats and about 13 western

diplomats

the governments of ghana and lesotho

released official statements of outrage

the south african police had clearly

underestimated the potential

consequences of steve bicker's death and

a global movement emerged demanding

justice for steve biekel

following his death in detention biko

became officially the 46th victim of

torture and death under the state

security laws his death helped highlight

the brutality of the south african

security laws to the international

community and the general plight of

black south africans

it led directly to the decision by

western countries to support the united

nations security council vote to ban

arms sales to the south african

apartheid government

it was only many years later at the

truth and reconciliation committee that

the truth of steve biko's death was

revealed

in early 1997 four former police

officers including police kennel gideon

newfound appeared before the commission

and admitted to killing steve bico two

decades earlier

the commission agreed to hear their

requests for political amnesty but in

1999 refused to grant them amnesty

because the men failed to establish a

political motive for the brutal killing

of steve biekel

bantu steve biko was a giant of the

struggle against south africa's white

minority rule and arguably its most

famous mata

black consciousness was beyond the

movement and steve pico's legacy remains

one that is deeply relevant to this day

a legacy of resistance and

self-determination in the face of

widespread oppression

don't forget to like and share the video

if you enjoyed it thank you all for

tuning in this has been tachenda for

african biographics until next time

cheers

have a good one

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