ANC Statements

Today, on the anniversary of Steve Biko’s death, the ANC wishes to reflect on the revolutionary legacy of this son of the soil, a liberation dedicator, student activist and a great son of the people of Ginsberg. We remember a courageous activist and leader whose life was dedicated to the pursuit of equality and Black consciousness.

Steve Biko was not only a prominent anti-apartheid activist but was also a symbol of resilience and unwavering commitment to the struggle for freedom. His politics were rooted in the belief that black South Africans should assert their dignity and humanity in the face of a brutal and dehumanizing system whose logic was the promotion of white supremacy.

Steve Biko’s influence extended beyond his political activism. He was a passionate advocate for black pride and self-empowerment, emphasizing the importance of psychological liberation. His writings, particularly “I Write What I Like,” continue to inspire generations worldwide, fostering critical thinking and activism. As a student leader, Biko exemplified the power of youth in driving social change, using education as a tool for enlightenment and empowerment.

Inspired by revolutionaries such as Frantz Fanon and the African-American Black Power movement, Biko and his fellow activists crafted Black Consciousness as the official ideology of the student movement, the South African Students’ Organisation (SASO). This movement passionately pursued the dismantling of apartheid, white supremacy and racial oppression.

His enduring legacy serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, individuals can ignite powerful actions to achieve justice and equality.

As we mark the day on which apartheid apparatchiks callously killed Biko, we reinvoke this powerful observation by President Mandela at the 5th Stephen Bantu Biko Memorial Lecture: “History from time to time brings to the fore the kind of leaders who seize the moment, who cohere the wishes and aspirations of the oppressed. Such was Steve Biko, a fitting product of his time; a proud representative of the re-awakening of a people”.