"On Friday, the 48th anniversary of the liberation icon's death, the government reopened the inquest into the 1977 case, in what Luxolo Tyali, a spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said was an effort "to address the atrocities of the past and assist in providing closure to the Biko family and society at large." Biko was arrested in Eastern Cape province for violating a ban restricting his movements and taken to prison in the city of Port Elizabeth, now renamed Gqeberha."
""It was only after 24 days in custody that medical assistance was sought for him after 'foam' was noted around his mouth," the NPA said in a statement this week. "He was loaded unconscious, still naked and shackled, into the back of a police Land Rover, and transported to a prison hospital in Pretoria, 1,200 kilometres away. He died outside a Pretoria hospital on 12 September 1977 at the age of 30," it continued."
Peter Gabriel's song evokes "room 619," where Steve Biko was held during apartheid. Apartheid police previously claimed Biko died after accidentally hitting his head against a cell wall. The government reopened the 1977 inquest on the 48th anniversary of Biko's death to establish what happened and provide closure. Biko was arrested for violating a movement ban and detained in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). After 24 days in custody, medical help was sought when foam was noted; he was transported unconscious to Pretoria and died on 12 September 1977 of extensive brain injury and acute kidney failure.
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