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The inquest into Steve Biko's death began on this day in 1977. Winnie Kgware, the president of the Black People's Convention led a picket outside the building where the inquest was taking place.
: Sahm Doherty
: Sahm Doherty
Ntsiki Biko attending the inquest. Her quest for answers resulted in authorities putting pressure on her employees to fire her. She was working at All Saints Hospital around this time.
: Avusa archives
: Avusa archives
She got a job at Grey Hospital. The second the state found out, they put pressure on hospital authorities to fire her. This was around 1981. The work of uncovering the truth about her husband's death was activism all on its own.
Attempting to unmask apartheid's silencing tactics against activists like Biko bore huge costs. They knew she was a mother who couldn't afford to risk her income when she had two young children to raise. Even so, their attempt to silence her never succeeded.
UMama established community programs in Ginsberg. The work of the foundation is just as much her legacy as it is her husband's. She doesn't get enough recognition for this, in my opinion. Apparently a book about her life is coming. I hope we get to read it soon.
