The widow of slain Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko said the “days of crying are gone” and the country should now “focus on his legacy”.
Nontsikilelo Biko was speaking to the media on Tuesday at her husband’s gravesite after a wreath-laying ceremony.
President Jacob Zuma also unveiled the tombstone to Biko, something the family had, until now, been reluctant to do.
"I've always been reluctant to put a monument around here because we know the type of person he was. He was a down to earth person and we felt it would mean that he is superior to all the other people who are lying here. But, we decided to let go and have this memorial erected in his name so that the young people who always come this place can learn more about him," she said.
"This monument will let the kids learn how we got freedom," said Mrs Biko.
She said the "days of crying are gone. Now we must just focus on continuing his legacy".
President Jacob Zuma meanwhile laid wreaths at Biko’s grave to mark 40 years since he died in police custody.
He said Human Rights Day was a day that "we remember our history, our struggle and the fact that we fought and got our independence."
"On this day we remember some of our heroes. This year we remember Oliver Reginald Tambo where we emphasise unity in action. We remember our hero who came from this year, our brother, freedom fighter and leader, Steve Biko," Zuma said.
