September 12, 1977

"On this day in 1977, Stephen Biko (Dec. 18, 1946 - Sept. 12, 1977), the leader of the Black Consciousness Movement, and probably the most influential young black leader in South Africa, died as a direct result of an extended period of torture while being held by "security forces" in Port Elizabeth." (source: Zinn Education Project)

"Steve Biko's death caused outrage in South Africa and almost immediately doubt was cast over the alleged cause of his death."

Newspaper editor Donald Woods, and close friend of Biko's, accused the Minister of Justice and Police James Kruger of being directly responsible for the death.

Two weeks later preliminary results from a post mortem examination revealed Biko had died from severe brain damage.

His funeral was attended by more than 15,000 mourners. Thousands more were barred from going by security forces. Twelve Western countries sent representatives to the service, which was conducted by the Right Reverend Desmond Tutu.

Biko's contribution to the black fight for freedom from apartheid is often placed as second only to that of former President Nelson Mandela.

The inquest into his death in November 1977 cleared the police of any wrong-doing.

But after the election of the ANC Government in 1994, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was set up under Archbishop Desmond Tutu, denied an amnesty to five policemen who admitted being involved in his death, although they have never been prosecuted.

The Commission found that Biko's death was as a direct result of the injuries he sustained in custody.
His life story was dramatised in the film Cry Freedom." (Source: On This Day: 1950-2005, BBC News)