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More revelations about the death of Steve Biko
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Copyright ) 1997 Nando.net
Copyright ) 1997 The Associated Press
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (December 8, 1997 11:06 a.m. EST
http://www.nando.net) -- A former policeman testified Monday that he
drove a semiconscious, naked Steve Biko more than 600 miles after a
brutal interrogation in 1977, then lied to medical officials at a
Pretoria prison about his condition.
"I told the men ... he was making as if he was sick" and was on a hunger
strike, former police Capt. Daniel Siebert told the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission.
Siebert is one of five former security policemen applying for amnesty in
Biko's death. Biko, a black leader who was among the country's major
anti-apartheid figures, became the subject of books and was portrayed by
Denzel Washington in the 1987 film "Cry Freedom."
In September, the amnesty committee heard how police butted Biko's head
into a wall and then chained him crucifixion style for 24 hours to a
gate while interrogating him in Port Elizabeth.
The five amnesty applicants said then they never intended to seriously
injure Biko or kill him during the interrogation, but they acknowledged
it went wrong.
The September hearing was interrupted for a national commemoration of
the 20th anniversary of Biko's death Sept. 12. It resumed Monday.
Lawyer George Bizos, who is representing Biko's family in opposing
amnesty for the five applicants, said Monday he would show they were not
telling the whole truth and their actions were not politically
motivated.
To receive amnesty, applicants must make full confessions to political
crimes.
Bizos, in questioning Siebert, challenged the former police officer's
claim that Biko was transported naked in the back of a station wagon to
Pretoria to prevent him from hanging himself.
"You were prepared right to the end to insult his humanity by handing
him over in a completely naked condition," Bizos said. "He was hardly
able to move. How did you expect him to lift himself up and commit
suicide in his miserable condition? Did you expect a person at death's
door to be strong enough to lift himself up?"
Bizos also questioned Siebert on the beating given Biko during
interrogation, reading from a report at a 1977 inquest into Biko's death
that described one blow as similar to a punch from a boxer on the
forehead that smashes the brain into the other side of the head.
Siebert said he was unable to say who delivered punches to which parts
of Biko's body during the interrogation.
Pretoria prison officials have testified that Biko's mouth was open, he
had difficulty breathing and his eyes were staring upward when he
arrived. The 30-year-old Biko died shortly afterward.
Biko was labeled a terrorist by the apartheid government for preaching
that blacks should take pride in their culture and fight for control of
the country. His death provoked international outrage and mobilized the
anti-apartheid movement at home.
Among the officers seeking amnesty with Siebert are former Col. Harold
Snyman, who led the team that interrogated Biko, and Lt. Col. Gideon
Nieuwoudt, who has applied for amnesty in 10 other killings.
Nieuwoudt was sentenced last year to 20 years in prison for his part in
a 1989 bomb blast that killed three colleagues and a police informer.
Under the leadership of retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Truth
Commission has approved amnesty in about a third of the cases it has
acted on. More than 5,000 applications are pending.
By PAT REBER, Associated Press Writer
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