Reopened inquest into Steve Biko’s death set to get underway - EWN

The long-awaited reopened inquest into the death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko is set to get underway in the Gqeberha High Court on Monday morning.

The inquest was reopened last September, nearly five decades after Biko died in apartheid police custody.

However, proceedings have already been delayed several times over issues, including legal funding for two former police officers identified as persons of interest.

The latest case-management hearing has now cleared the way for the inquest to resume in Gqeberha.

Biko, a founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, was arrested at a roadblock near Grahamstown, now Makhanda, in August 1977.

He was later seriously injured in police custody and died on 12 September 1977, aged 30, after suffering severe brain injuries and kidney failure.