By Erewunmi Peace

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has announced that it will reopen the inquest into the death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, nearly 48 years after he died in police custody.

Biko, a prominent leader of the Black Consciousness Movement, was arrested in August 1977 and later died from severe head injuries on September 12, 1977, while being held by apartheid security police. His death sparked international outrage, drawing widespread condemnation of the apartheid regime.

The first inquest, held in 1977, concluded that no one could be held criminally liable for Biko’s death, a finding that has long been criticized by human rights groups and Biko’s family.

In a statement this week, the NPA confirmed that fresh evidence had been gathered and that the Minister of Justice had approved the reopening of the case. The inquest will be officially enrolled in court on September 12, marking the anniversary of Biko’s death.

“The new inquest will allow a court of law to evaluate whether acts or omissions by those responsible for Biko’s detention and transport may amount to a prosecutable offence,” the NPA said.

The move comes after years of lobbying by the Biko family and civil society organizations, who have argued that truth and accountability were denied under apartheid-era investigations.

Legal experts say the reopened inquest could pave the way for possible prosecutions, although many of the security officials involved in Biko’s detention have since died.

Who Was Steve Biko?

Biko was a medical student and the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, which inspired Black South Africans to assert their identity and resist apartheid. His writings and activism made him a target for the security forces. His death at the age of 30 turned him into a global symbol of resistance and sacrifice.

Next Steps

The inquest will be heard in the Pretoria High Court, with proceedings expected to examine testimonies, medical reports, and newly uncovered evidence. The Biko family has welcomed the decision, calling it “a long-overdue step toward justice.”