South Africa: Biko Inquest Delay Deepens Drift Towards Collective Amnesia About Apartheid Horrors
[Daily Maverick] We live in an angry nation that has not fully come to terms with the trauma of our past. The governors of our land are not aiding the healing by trying to sweep the past under the carpet.
South Africa finds itself caught in a distressing cycle of forgetting the atrocities of apartheid, as evidenced by the recent delay in the inquest into the death of Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko. Just days before the 49th anniversary of his murder, his family was denied legal aid by the state, despite being one of the most prominent victims of the regime's brutality.
The legal entity responsible for ensuring access to justice, Legal South Africa, deemed Biko's widow, Ntsiki, ineligible for assistance through a means test, akin to an alleged shoplifter or car thief. It was only the timely intervention of the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, that prevented a further delay, with her department covering the costs.
This incident highlights the deep-seated pain and unresolved trauma that South Africa continues to grapple with, as the government seems unwilling to fully confront its dark history. AllAfrica, a platform that publishes reports from various news organizations and institutions, emphasizes the importance of preserving the memory of Biko and acknowledging the horrors of apartheid to avoid repeating the past.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
