A Port Elizabeth building where struggle icons, including Steve Biko, were tortured by the then-security police could soon become a heritage site.
This is planned by the National Heritage Council (NHC), which wants to turn the Sanlam Building in Strand Street in the Central Business District into a memorial for the icons.
Biko was tortured in the building by the security police, leading to his death in September 1977.
The NHC is calling on Sanlam to hand over the dilapidated building.
NHC CEO Sonwabile Mancotywa told the Daily Dispatch the move was inspired by constant threats to South Africa’s heritage history.
“This is inspired by the strong possibility of losing our heritage. If you look at the building now, no one can say people died there.
“Many people lost their lives in that building, and in our society a place where people died becomes sacred because of the spirits and the cries that actually lie beneath that building.”
Besides Biko, other political detainees known to have died under torture in the building include George Botha, who was alleged to have jumped down a stairwell in December 1976, and Lungile Tabalaza, who allegedly jumped out of a fifth-floor window in July 1978.
The NHC is planning to solicit heritage property and objects that are in private hands. NHC spokesman Danny Goulkan said such sites were best protected and preserved when owned by public institutions.
Steve Biko Foundation spokeswoman Obenewa Amponsah said the foundation was in support of the Port Elizabeth initiative by the NHC because of the history of the building.
“We welcome the declaration by the NHC to turn the building into a national heritage site.”
She said the stories of those who died in the building needed to be told.
“The building should be preserved for present and future generations,” Amponsah said.
The call by the NHR comes hot on the heels of an urgent court application by the Biko Family and the Steve Biko Foundation to prevent the auction of Biko’s original autopsy.
The Johannesburg High Court halted the auction and the foundation now wants the seller to hand over the documents.
Amponsah said the foundation was pleased the high court granted the interdict and would seek to take ownership of the autopsy documents.
“We are very happy with the judgment. Our lawyers have communicated with the lawyers of the Steele family and indicated that they should return the documents to us by Monday,” Amponsah said. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
Heritage plan for place of Biko’s torture
This is planned by the National Heritage Council (NHC), which wants to turn the Sanlam Building in Strand Street in the Central Business District into a memorial for the icons.
Biko was tortured in the building by the security police, leading to his death in September 1977.
The NHC is calling on Sanlam to hand over the dilapidated building.
NHC CEO Sonwabile Mancotywa told the Daily Dispatch the move was inspired by constant threats to South Africa’s heritage history.
“This is inspired by the strong possibility of losing our heritage. If you look at the building now, no one can say people died there.
“Many people lost their lives in that building, and in our society a place where people died becomes sacred because of the spirits and the cries that actually lie beneath that building.”
Besides Biko, other political detainees known to have died under torture in the building include George Botha, who was alleged to have jumped down a stairwell in December 1976, and Lungile Tabalaza, who allegedly jumped out of a fifth-floor window in July 1978.
The NHC is planning to solicit heritage property and objects that are in private hands. NHC spokesman Danny Goulkan said such sites were best protected and preserved when owned by public institutions.
Steve Biko Foundation spokeswoman Obenewa Amponsah said the foundation was in support of the Port Elizabeth initiative by the NHC because of the history of the building.
“We welcome the declaration by the NHC to turn the building into a national heritage site.”
She said the stories of those who died in the building needed to be told.
“The building should be preserved for present and future generations,” Amponsah said.
The call by the NHR comes hot on the heels of an urgent court application by the Biko Family and the Steve Biko Foundation to prevent the auction of Biko’s original autopsy.
The Johannesburg High Court halted the auction and the foundation now wants the seller to hand over the documents.
Amponsah said the foundation was pleased the high court granted the interdict and would seek to take ownership of the autopsy documents.
“We are very happy with the judgment. Our lawyers have communicated with the lawyers of the Steele family and indicated that they should return the documents to us by Monday,” Amponsah said. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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