Steve Biko

South African Federation of Trade Unions(SAFTU) general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi believes that slain anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko would be ...

We didn’t fight for freedom so that people can be workers and economy of the country be in the hands of white people. Steve Biko and Sobukhwe are honorary leaders this is to ensure we create socialist Azania”, says Nyhontso. South African Federation of Trade Unions(SAFTU) general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi believes that slain anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko would be disappointed in the state of South Africa at the moment.

Stephen Biko's death became a symbol for the debate at the United Nations on expanding the global fight against torture. His stature as a well-known civil ...

This is why it is fair to label this “the Stephen Biko moment in international human rights law”. His most recent publication is the co-edited volume [Social Rights and the Politics of Obligation in History](https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/social-rights-and-the-politics-of-obligation-in-history/D9363DE5E8A79182A3220DD7BDC67472). The 1960s, Decolonization and the Reconstruction of Global Values](https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/making-of-international-human-rights/149CD81E02FFE3D2DE3F715D687C5B9C). This was a major change — also backed by parallel work on enforced disappearances — and the significance of this should not be underestimated. First, the resolution declared that the General Assembly was “deeply shocked by the cowardly and dastardly murder in detention of Stephen Biko”. A decision on this had been one of the major human rights battles at the UN during the 1970s. It was a call for the UN to start drafting an international convention against torture. His Government [Denmark’s] considered that the use of torture was unquestionably the most cruel encroachment on the dignity of man and on fundamental human rights and could never be justified by reference to political needs or to any form of religious or social ideology.” This is evidenced by a number of member states explicitly referring to Biko’s death in their statements to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee — the committee that deals with human rights. It happened in a speech on 1 November 1977 that critically self-reflected on the Nordic country’s changing approach to international human rights. Alongside the [UN’s International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination](https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial), this gave human rights a much stronger standing in international law than ever before. I would argue that the aftermath of his death in September 1977 can reasonably be labelled as “the Stephen Biko moment in international human rights law”.

The widow of late Black Consciousness Movement activist Steve Biko, Mama Nontsikelelo Biko. Image: Via Twitter/ Steve Biko Foundation. It ...

On this day 45 years ago, Stephen Bantu Biko died in police custody in Pretoria Central Prison. Human dignity, the principle at the heart of his black ...

In South Africa today, young people of the same age as Steve Biko was and even younger are at the forefront of activism for causes closest to them, and they are able to organise free of harassment or banishment. We must be focused on addressing our challenges to achieve a truly free and equal society. He never got to see in his lifetime what he called ‘the glittering prize’, the realisation of a true humanity. It remains a source of great sorrow all these years later to recall that Steve Biko was just 30 years old when he died. Twenty-eight years into our democracy, we are confronted with many challenges, such as poverty, unemployment and inequality. Human dignity, the principle at the heart of his black consciousness activism, was denied him.

Durban — The 1860 Heritage Centre has paid tribute to the legacy of Steve Bantu Biko on the 45th anniversary of his murder.

Biko officially became the 46th victim of torture and death under the State Security Laws. Biko died on the floor of an empty cell in Pretoria Central Prison on September 12. On September 11, 1977, Biko was transported to Pretoria central prison – a twelve-hour journey, naked, without medical escort, in the back of a police Land Rover.

Sikhahlela indoda yamadoda”, “We salute a hero of the nation”. Those were the bold words printed on the Daily Dispatch (http://www.dispatchlive.co.za) front ...

“His death in detention did not come unexpectedly to me. I knew that because he was a man of such firm convictions and beliefs, only death could stop him from what he believed in,” Ntsiki Biko was quoted saying in the same article. “Steve Biko was a good man, he was a good father, but above all he was a leader,” Ntsiki Biko was quoted saying at the time.

Forty-five years after struggle icon Steve Biko died in police custody in Pretoria Central Prison, South Africa is still working towards achieving his ...

Successive democratic administrations have implemented policies to salvage the lost dignity of this country’s majority by providing education, health care, housing and basic services." This call is as important now as it was back then." Forty-five years after struggle icon Steve Biko died in police custody in Pretoria Central Prison, South Africa is still working towards achieving his vision of a country built on human dignity, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

As tributes poured in on the 45th anniversary of the death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, the Azanian People's Organisation (Azapo) slammed ...

If Steve came and saw that black schools are using pit latrines, pit toilets, Steve Biko would cry,” Qekema reiterated. Biko also fought the apartheid government. Biko would cry. [Calls for govt to reopen Steve Biko inquest](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/2008581/calls-for-govt-to-reopen-steve-biko-inquest/) [beaten, starved](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/2008581/calls-for-govt-to-reopen-steve-biko-inquest/) and then chained naked in a Pretoria Central Prison. [Biko](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/opinion/2008249/why-is-steve-bikos-remarkable-legacy-often-overlooked/) died at the age of 30 on 12 September 1977.

The Black Consciousness activist died at the age of 30 while he was in police custody in prison.

[#SteveBiko] [pic.twitter.com/7pRZU2i23P] [September 12, 2022] [#SteveBiko] [pic.twitter.com/NQuIUKUt5D] [September 12, 2022] [pic.twitter.com/sF3nQv5LVa] [September 12, 2022]

Steve Biko and his comrades devised programmes through Black Consciousness that justified their ideas and improved people's lives.

The Black Community Programmes succeeded in advancing a legacy of community development for political transformation that continues to inspire activists today. In October of the same year, the Black Consciousness Movement and all of its affiliates were banned by the Nationalist Party government. In a bid to address the economic marginalisation of black people during apartheid the BCP opened the Njwaxa leatherwork factory in 1974 to give the Black people who worked there a measure of economic independence. The trial of the organisers of Viva Frelimo rally in Durban marked the beginning of the end of the Black Consciousness Movement. Black Consciousness activists were determined to transform research by and about Black South Africans and ensure the publication of their work. All of them seeking to create the conditions for Black people to be self-reliant, politically conscious, and the drivers of their own development and liberation. June 1973 saw the publication of the Handbook of Black Organisations, a directory of voluntary organisations. In its 1973 report, it was stated the BCP was created “To enable the Black community to organise itself, to analyse its own needs and problems and to mobilise its resources to meet its needs. Operating from four offices across South Africa, the BCP clearly expressed concern for the desperate conditions of urban and rural Black communities and implemented programmes in response to their challenges. In July 1969, the inaugural conference took place at the University of the North (also known as ‘Turfloop’ and currently the University of Limpopo). The subsequent establishment of Saso in 1968 followed by the creation of the BCP in 1972 can be seen as a response to these political doldrums. And the main purpose here is to give employment to people, and offer some kind of technical training in that particular skill …

Open Secrets and the Unpaid Benefits Campaign are hosting a 'People's Hearing on Unpaid Pensions'; and the Rethinking Economics for Africa Festival.

It is also the largest annual single-day action and unites millions of volunteers and thousands of governments, corporations and organisations across 191 countries,” according to the event description. This year, Democracy Day will focus on the importance of media freedom to democracy, peace and the fulfilment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. “Free, independent and pluralistic media, able to keep the public informed on matters of public interest, is a key ingredient to democracy. It enables the public to make informed decisions and hold governments to account. As we move forward, we need people to be our eyes, ears and voices on the ground to monitor and protect our water but also to hold those responsible accountable,” according to the event description. On the final day of the conference, there will be a session on “National Health Insurance [NHI] and our future health system”. Members of the media are invited to attend. The event will be attended by Dr Ferrial Adam, Julius Kleynhans and Wayne Duvenage of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa). This is an urgent issue, the resolution of which has the potential to improve the material conditions for millions of people. The theme of the conference is “Building back better: Public health resilience and recovery”. However, a mix of private profiteering and poor state regulatory oversight has worked against the interests of potential claimants.” Here he was beaten to the point of suffering a brain haemorrhage.

The best way to remember and honour Steve Biko, Robert Sobukwe and Chris Hani is to give dignity to the black people.

“It is about time that the people of this country realise that nothing is to be done without them. “This is the colonial mentality.” “I am saying people should not just vote, but must dictate what that vote is for.” “The reason we commemorate this Steve Biko Day is to let it be known that the new struggle is the struggle against forgetting. “We need to acknowledge that Biko and these other leaders did not die in vain and that we must wage war against forgetting.” “When 17 million people live on grants, you are depriving the nation of initiative to shape their destiny.

Several politicians and political parties have commemorated struggle stalwart Steve Biko on the 45th anniversary.of his death.

Successive democratic administrations have implemented policies to salvage the lost dignity of this country’s majority by providing education, healthcare, housing and basic services,” he added. Writing about this ideal, he famously said: 'In time we shall be in a position to bestow upon SA the greatest gift possible — a more human face',” said Ramaphosa. “He never got to see in his lifetime what he called ‘the glittering prize’, the realisation of true humanity.

The best way to remember and honour Steve Biko, Robert Sobukwe and Chris Hani is to give dignity to the black people.

“It is about time that the people of this country realise that nothing is to be done without them. “This is the colonial mentality.” “I am saying people should not just vote, but must dictate what that vote is for.” “The reason we commemorate this Steve Biko Day is to let it be known that the new struggle is the struggle against forgetting. “We need to acknowledge that Biko and these other leaders did not die in vain and that we must wage war against forgetting.” “When 17 million people live on grants, you are depriving the nation of initiative to shape their destiny.