The Durban University of Technology (DUT), in partnership with UMTAPO Students Movement, held the first Steve Biko Memorial seminar at Ritson Campus, last week.

Panel members included UMTAPO chairman of the board, Dr James Marsh, DUT director of special projects, Mr David Mohale, Ms Lee Ann Naidoo of the School of Education, Wits University and South African poet, cultural worker and social critic, Mphutlane wa Bofelo.

The topic was ‘SASO and Biko in relation to education and consciousness’, and ‘Black Consciousness perspective on socio-economic transformation in South Africa/Azania.’

In his welcome, Mohale said Steve Biko was a popular voice of black liberation in South Africa and his death in police detention. Him and his fellow countryman developed the idea of Black Consciousness, which became South African Student Organisation (SASO)’s official ideology.

Chairman of UMTAPO, Dr James Marsh, said they are honoured to finally work with the DUT in this seminar to teach students about SASO, especially in honour of the anti-apartheid activist, Steve Biko. “It is important for students to learn and find out more about their history because South Africans are living in critical times,” he added.

Talking on the SASO and Biko in relation to education and consciousness topic, Naidoo of the School of Education said one of the first things SASO did was to research on the act of education system, in order to work with distribution of resources between Black and White students.

In closing, SA poet and social critic, Bofelo also took a stand and shared his thoughts about socio-economic transformation in South Africa/Azania. “The goal of the philosophy of black consciousness is to remove the material days upon which racial class and gender differences are rooted in order to do away with racial, gender based identities and divisions,” Bofelo said.

 AUTHOR: Noxolo Mkhwanazi-http://risingsunoverport.co.za/52363/memorial-honours-steve-biko/