The Pretoria Supreme Court ordered the South African Medical and Dental Council (SAMDC) to hold an inquiry into the conduct of the two doctors who treated Steve Biko for five days before he died. Biko was detained by Port Elizabeth security police on 18 August 1977 and held for 20 days. Sometime between 6 and 7 September, Biko was beaten and tortured into a coma.According to allegations made at the time, surgeon Ivor Lang, along with chief district surgeon Benjamin Tucker, collaborated with the police and covered up the abuse which led to Biko's death from his injuries on 12 September.
Prior to the Supreme Court order and two years after his death, SAMDC disciplinary committee found there was no clear evidence for a case against the two doctors who had treated Biko shortly before his death. In February 1982, dissatisfied doctors had presented a petition to the Council seeking another inquiry. However, this was rejected on the grounds that no new evidence had come to light.
Biko’s death on 12 September 1977 caught the attention of the international community, which increased the pressure on the South African government to abolish its detention policies and called for an international investigation into the causes of his death. Even close allies of South Africa, Britain and the United States of America, expressed deep concern over his death.
After pressure was put into holding a full inquiry, the SAMDC went on to find Tucker guilty of disgraceful conduct and Lang guilty of improper conduct. Tucker was suspended from the medical register for three months but the sentence was suspended for two years. Lang was cautioned and reprimanded by the SAMDC.
This Day in History: 30 January 1985
