Steve Biko inquest halted
The family said hundreds of documents connected to the case still need close review.
The Biko family is seeking to halt the reopened inquest into the death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, which occurred on 12 September 1977. The family's legal team needs time to consult with Biko's widow and prepare an affidavit detailing relevant information. The Gqeberha High Court initially scheduled the application for Tuesday, but has now set it for Wednesday to allow sufficient time for the legal team to present evidence.
The family argues that the matter is not ready to proceed and cites concerns over the advanced age of two surviving persons of interest and the potential for their memories to fade. The two men, Daniel Petrus Siebert and Jacobus Johannes Oosthuysen Beneke, both aged 80 and 76 respectively, have already indicated they cannot remember certain events surrounding Biko's death.
Their testimony has included apparent discrepancies with their previous statements to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1997 and the original inquest in November 1977.
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