Steve Biko Biography: 10 Things You Need To Know About The Late South African Activist

Steve Biko, born on December 18, 1946, was a South African activist who was known for his anti-apartheid stand as well as his leadership and commitment to the Black Conscious Movement. 

On September 12, 1977, he died after he was brutally beaten by state security officers following his arrest for his activism which was perceived as a threat to the South African government.  

10 Things To Know About Steve Biko

Here are 10 things you need to know about late South African activist Steve Biko:

• His real name was Bantu Stephen Biko
• He was born on December 18, 1946, in Tarkastad, Eastern Cape, South Africa
• His mother was o and Alice 'Mamcete' Biko while his father was Mzingaye Mathew Biko. He also had two older siblings and one younger sibling
• He acquired primary and secondary education at various schools including St. Andrews Primary School, Charles Morgan Higher School, Forbes Grant Secondary School, and St. Francis Colleey, before going on to study Medicine at the University of Natal Medical School
• While studying at the university, he founded the South African Students' Organization [SASO] in 1968. He was eventually elected as the organization's first president and contributed hugely to its development
• In 1972, he contributed to the establishment of the Black People's Convention after being inspired by the Frantz Fanon and the African-American Black Power movement [BPC]
• The following year, the South African government saw the Black People's Convention [BPC] as a threat and decided to place a banning order on Steve Biko. He was restricted from leaving the King William's Town magisterial district, from being a member of any political organization, and from speaking in public or to more than one person at once. 
• In August 1977, he broke his banning order by travelling out of William's Town magisterial district to meet Unity Movement leader Neville Alexander. Following Neville's refusal to meet with him, he returned back but was arrested on his way at a police roadblock near Grahamstown. He was also severely beaten by state security officers during interrogation and suffered from multiple injuries. 
• On September 12, 1977, he died from an extensive brain injury sustained during the physical assault by the state security officers. He was 30 year old at the time of his death
• He was married to Ntsiki Mashalaba