Special Report Transcript Episode 13, Section 5, Time 17:57

The South African medical profession was ashamed when it was found that two district surgeons helped the security police cover up the murder of black consciousness leader, Steve Biko, in 1977. The shame was shared by the medical and dental council, the regulatory body, and the medical association. Practices similar to those of the Biko doctors and worse continued right into the 1990s. The Truth Commission has repeatedly in the last three months heard evidence of doctors who helped cover up police torture and in some cases lied about the causes of death of victims. The medical association last year issued a vague apology, but it did not satisfy a strong lobby inside the profession who wants a separate Truth Commission for doctors. The issue was debated at a meeting at the University of Cape Town this week, organized by the trauma centre for victims of violence and torture. Our cameras were there.

Notes: Max du Preez