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AUTHOR: Xolela Mangcu

After much anticipation, the new biography was released countrywide yesterday.

The book looks to shed new light on the Black Consciousness Movement founder, who changed the course of South African history.

It is the first comprehensive account of the inspirational leader who was killed by apartheid police on September 12 1977.

Mangcu grew up in Ginsberg, Biko's home town, near King William's Town, Eastern Cape. He was 11 years old when Biko was killed.

Today, Mangcu is a political commentator with six other books under his belt.

"Biko would have been appalled by the education and health systems in the country," Mangcu says.

He says if Biko was alive today South Africa would be in a better place.

Describing Biko, Mangcu says: "He was a selfless, honest and dedicated leader with a great sense of humour."

But the biography does not spare any punches and details Biko in all his complexities - both negative and positive.

"It is important when writing a biography to show the true individual ... good or bad," he says.

Although the facts of Biko's death are well known, there has not been an in-depth book based on the political icon's life.

"He was a ladies man and was notorious for it. But without justifying his behaviour, Biko was a prophet, not a saint."

While the author says he cannot claim to know Biko personally, his book consists of years of research and interviews.

The book includes chapters on Biko's childhood and student years, the South African Students Organisation and the Black Consciousness Movement, the students uprising of June 1976, his death and the effect this had on SA.

"He was the most important leader between 1968 and 1977. But it is like he has been erased from history."

Comments

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Sun May 26 04:49:33 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 18, 2012

THEmadame2B-BBEE

yeah so, so will Jesus
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Sep 18, 2012

ndhandhazi

You know that you are telling lies. How do you know, may be he would have been worse than those we see today, like Malema.
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Sep 18, 2012

Maqhankqa

Excellent Xolela;
This is one book I must have in my shelve. The last sentence is the most striking one. I suppose the reason for casting Steve in the dustbin of history lies within the type of freedom we have. Those still holding the reigns of power, ANC, want to portray themselves as the people who solely liberated this country. They do not want to acknowledge important role players like Steve and others. The era before the death of Steve the ANC was existent in name not in deeds, let me qualify it, in the minds of the older generation. The majority of the youth of this country belonged to SASM and BPC.The day it was reported that "Steve Biko is dead" was as if the heavens have fallen everywhere one would go there was nothing else people were talking about. Steve's funeral was the first biggest funeral in the history of this country followed by Sobukwe's funeral in Graaf Reinet where Buthelezi was saved by Bishop Tutu' s intervention. I shudder to think if those people were alive we would have these pretenders to the throne that we have today.
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Sep 18, 2012

Mgwijikhwebu

There goes Tokyo's number 1 fan again. He failed to aim at Zuma this time around, although the message is still somehow aimed at the ANC.
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Sep 18, 2012

Papage

Let his spirit rest and stop talking about him. President Mandela is disgusted as we speak, no one is bothered to go to him and ask for advise while he is still with us, I see Malema going there soon, to get blessed from Tata and once that is done, No one will destroy Malema.
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Sep 18, 2012

Mogome

Managaung a place where the liberation movement was born and led by wise Zulu intelect....the same place shall see uneducated selfambitious leader re elected..... Mangaung the openening and the closure.

Mighty ANC will fall! Oh ANC will falll!
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Sep 18, 2012

Mogome

Mangaung a place where the liberation movement was born and led by wise Zulu intelect....the same place shall see uneducated selfambitious leader re-elected.....

Mighty ANC will fall! Oh ANC will fall!
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Sep 18, 2012

Makhosini0408

I love Biko's teachings. Do not patronise us, Please Sir. Maybe Biko was going to be like Kenny Kunene, Malema or a tenderpreneur?

Let us accept that we will never know the truth and dealing with that is much easier thatn your theory.

How about my theory: If Biko was alive, he would have married Dr Mamphela Ramphele.
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Sep 18, 2012

Bahaeso

@Maqhankqa " The reason for Biko to be cast into the political dustbin of history" , I am not sure what exactlly what you are talking about, but what I know is that AZAPO , BCMC and every othe black conciousness aligned party in SA are in the dustbin of history and you cannot blame the ANC . Blame yourselves for your lazinesss and inablity to convince voters to vote for you.
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Sep 18, 2012

Lehido

Let Biko rest in peace dammit
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