43 Years on: South Africa remembers struggle icon Steve Biko
- It has been 43 years since the passing of apartheid struggle icon Steve Biko
- South Africans and many around the world remember him for his Black Consciousness movement and fight against racism
- His legacy lives on as Mzansi comments on his contribution to the fight against inequality before the country became a democracy
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On 12 September 1977, South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko died after being in police custody. He died alone at a prison cell in Pretoria. According to an autopsy, he had sustained extensive brain injuries which caused his death after he had been beaten by police officers.
Today, on the 43rd anniversary of his death, the world remembers the struggle icon and what he stood for. Biko was a strong activist for the Black Consciousness movement and his ideas still remain strong in the minds of the people from his place of birth.
Biko was born in Tarkastad, Eastern Cape, and grew up in Ginsberg in the same province. He went on to start studying medicine at university and became involved in student politics. This eventually led to him actively becoming an anti-apartheid activist.
Source: Twitter
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Even though it has been 43 years since his passing, Steve Biko still remains relevant as ever. Makhola Ndebele, the writer, and director of the play about Steve Biko titled Bantu said:
"Biko also says when you know yourself, you stop being in bondage. If we’re still oppressed as a people that means we haven’t come to consciousness of who we really are.”
The memory of Steve Biko remains in the hearts of many South Africans as he is honoured today on the anniversary of his death. It serves as a reminder of what South Africa has endured to become the democracy that it is today.
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Briefly.co.za previously reported that the National State of Disaster has been extended by the Cabinet.
The Cabinet has approved the extension of the national State of Disaster to 15 October after first implementing it in March. BusinessTech reports that the extension has yet to be gazetted by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. A statement issued on the matter commented that the decline in new Covid-19 cases was noted and welcome:
“Cabinet welcomes the drop in the number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases over the past few weeks and the improved recovery rate that has increased to 87%."
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Source: Briefly News
