Speaker, this year marks the 35th anniversary of the death in detention of Bantu Steven Biko. On 12 September Azapo, the Biko Foundation, and some institutions of higher learning and other organisations of civil society organised services to commemorate Biko's death. Speakers heaped praises on Biko and described him as a selfless leader who put his people's interests above his own. We have noted with appreciation the increase in the number of people and organisations who observed Biko Day this year.
As we commemorate Biko Day, we did so with the Marikana massacre still fresh in our minds. As if that was not enough, Marikana has an undeclared state of emergency. Government has gone into the archives to retrieve laws that were used to suppress and oppress our people. We heard how Ministers tried to explain and justify what is happening in Marikana and one would have been forgiven for thinking that one was listening to former Ministers Adriaan Vlok and Kobie Coetsee. We in Azapo pay tribute to a gallant fighter, to a leader, a patriot, Bantu Steve Biko. Biko lives. The spirit lives. Black consciousness lives. Thank you.