The inquest into the death of late Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko has been temporarily suspended following an urgent application by his family.
The Biko family approached the Gqeberha High Court seeking a halt to the proceedings, arguing that they require additional time to properly prepare their case.
The family’s legal team said hundreds of documents still need to be reviewed, with some requiring translation from Afrikaans before they can be fully considered.
The application followed an earlier request by the family’s lawyers to postpone the inquest, which was rejected by Judge Isaac Madondo.
The family’s lawyer, Ngqiqo Sakhela, has previously criticised the manner in which the inquiry was being conducted, describing the proceedings as haphazard.
The developments came as Jacobus Beneke testified on Tuesday about the events surrounding Biko’s death.
Beneke is the second person of interest to give evidence at the inquest. He was a member of the apartheid-era Security Branch, which was notorious for its role in the repression and violent targeting of anti-apartheid activists.
Beneke told the inquiry that he was in the room on 6 September 1977 when Security Branch officers assaulted Biko.
However, he denied playing any role in Biko’s death and maintained that there had been no intention to kill the activist while he was present during the assault.
Biko died in police custody on 12 September 1977 after suffering severe injuries while being detained by the Security Branch.
The renewed inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding his death and the role played by those who were involved in his detention and treatment.