GQEBERHA - The inquest into the death of late Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko has been temporarily halted.
Biko’s family brought an urgent application in the Gqeberha High Court to suspend the inquest, saying they needed more time to properly prepare their case.
The family says hundreds of documents still need to be scrutinised, with some requiring translation from Afrikaans.
READ | Biko family files papers to halt inquest into anti-apartheid activist's death
The application follows a request by the Biko family’s lawyers to postpone the inquiry, which Judge Isaac Madondo previously denied. The family’s lawyer, Ngqiqo Sakhela, has previously said the inquiry was being conducted haphazardly.
Meanwhile, Jacobus Beneke testified on Tuesday that there was no intention to kill Biko while he was in the room where Security Branch police were assaulting the anti-apartheid activist.
Beneke is the second person of interest to testify in the inquest. He was a member of the notorious Security Branch, which was responsible for brutal attacks on activists opposed to apartheid.
Beneke said he was present when Biko was assaulted on 6 September 1977, but denied any involvement in his murder.
Read more: Biko inquest hears chilling account of Room 619 interrogation