This week South Africa and the broader international community will commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the death of Black Consciousness leader Steve Bantu Biko.

This week South Africa and the broader international community will commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the death of Black Consciousness leader Steve Bantu Biko.

Biko was killed in detention in September 12 1977 by the apartheid security police.

One of the parties that will be commemorating Biko's death is the Black People's Convention (BCP), which will hold a series of events.

"We will use the occasion to renew calls for September 12 to be declared a paid public holiday in view of Biko's quest to create a socialist society free of racism and exploitation," said BCP publicity secretary Kedibone Molema.

Molema said the events would include lectures at the universities of Botswana, Makerere, New York and Toronto as well as laying wreaths at the cell in which Biko died in Pretoria's Central Prison.

The main service will be held in KwaThema, Springs, on Saturday. It will be addressed by BCP president Nchaupe Mokoape.