ADHERENTS: Dr Hlulani Mabasa (front middle), President of the Black Consciousness Movement-United (BCM-U) with Biko followers
The ugly head of white racism and capitalism was rearing its ugly head and thus worsening the lot of black people – a service to mark the 49th anniversary of the killing of Black Consciousness leader – Steve Biko heard at the Kgoshi Mampuru Prison on Saturday.
Dr Hlulani Mabasa – President of the Black Consciousness Movement-United (BCM-U) was addressing scores of people at the wreath laying ceremony at next to the cell in which Biko’s lifeless body was found.
“We’re seeing right wing movements ascending to power in various parts of the world including Germany where neo-Nazis have just made a mark.
“When we use our tools of analysis we realize that parallel with this trend is the exacerbation of the conditions of black people in the form of poverty and landlessness,”he said.
Dr Mabasa said even more worrisome was the high unemployment rate among black youth which was sitting at over 70 percent.” Clearly – we are on top of a powder keg.
He said Biko’s spirit should move people to liberate themselves as the current government had betrayed the aspirations of black people.
Dr Mabasa dismissed the 1994 political settlement as the” biggest sellout ever. “
Dudu Shaba – Azapo’s deputy president – told those attending that her organization demanded justice for Biko and that the recently halted Inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death should be about truth and justice.
” We want to know who was giving orders that led to our leader’s brutal murder,” she said.
Thami Hukwe – project co-ordinator for the Socialist Party of Azania – said in 1994 the Black Consciousness Movement warned people that the negotiated settlement would not deliver power to the oppressed and has since been vindicated.
Black Consciousness leaders Lybon Mabasa (2nd from left), and Strike Thokoana next to him, flanked by BC activists in commemoration of Steve Biko murdered by apartheid police 49 years ago.
MARCHING to the cell where Steve Biko was confirmed dead at the Kgoshi Mampuru Correctional Services in the capital, Pretoria
BIKO LIVES. BC supporters mark the 49th anniversary of Steve Biko’s brutal murder by apartheid police
WREATH LAYING: Black Consciousness activists march to lay wreaths at the “Biko Cell” to mark his assassination 49 years ago.
