THE LOWLY NEWSPAPER MAN: Biko inquest delay deepens drift towards collective amnesia about apartheid horrors

The nation is grappling with the trauma of its past, yet attempts to sweep it under the carpet persist. The inquest into the death of Steve Biko, a Black Consciousness leader, was delayed due to bureaucratic reasons. The family had to argue for legal representation, as Legal South Africa, the state entity responsible for ensuring access to justice, deemed Biko's widow, Ntsiki, ineligible for assistance based on a means test.

This cold process of evaluating requests for help was likened to that of an alleged shoplifter or murder accused in overburdened courts. The delay was only resolved by the Minister of Justice, Mmamoloko Kubayi, who intervened at the last minute to cover the costs. Judge Isaac Madondo expressed disdain for the authorities treating this as an ordinary matter, while Biko's son, Nkosinathi, described the proceedings as "undignified."

The inquest arrives nearly 50 years after an apartheid-era inquiry found Biko's death not to be the result of any criminal act. This delay, though seemingly minor, underscores the country's reluctance to confront its past. The Biko inquest is one of several instances of collective amnesia, with other commissions like the Madlanga and Khampepe also under scrutiny.

These processes, which emerged from relentless campaigning by affected families and civil society groups, have revealed troubling links between politics, law enforcement, and organized crime. The ANC's efforts to hide the truth about its past, including the potential involvement of Nelson Mandela, highlight a disturbing pattern of betrayal towards the millions who believed in the nation-building process with the promise of justice for the worst elements of apartheid.