Honouring Amy Biehl: a legacy of forgiveness and empowerment

As South Africa enters Heritage Month this September, the nation reflects on the lives and sacrifices that have shaped its journey towards freedom and unity. Among the many stories of courage and reconciliation, one name continues to echo with profound resonance - Amy Biehl.

Amy Biehl was a 26-year-old Fulbright scholar from the United States who came to South Africa in the early 1990s, driven by a deep commitment to justice and equality. She worked closely with the African National Congress at the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Community Law Centre, contributing to the development of the new Constitution and advocating for women’s rights and voter education. Her passion for South Africa’s democratic transition was not just academic; it was personal, heartfelt and courageous.

Tragically, on 25 August 1993, Amy’s life was cut short in Gugulethu, Cape Town, when she was attacked and killed by a mob during a period of intense political unrest. Her death shocked the world. But what followed was even more extraordinary: her parents, Linda and Peter Biehl, chose the path of forgiveness. They supported the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s decision to grant amnesty to the four young men convicted of her murder. Two of them would later work for the very foundation established in her name.

The Amy Foundation, formerly the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust, was founded in 1998 to honour Amy’s legacy and continue her mission of uplifting South Africa’s youth. Based in Sybrand Park, Cape Town, the foundation offers after-school and youth development programmes in vulnerable communities. Its mission is to provide safe spaces where children and young adults can grow into emotionally and intellectually well-rounded individuals who contribute positively to society.

Each week, more than 1 400 children, aged 6 to 18, benefit from the foundation’s after-school programmes which include academic support, arts, sports, life skills and mentorship. For older youth, vocational and skills development programmes equip them with practical tools to enter the job market and break the cycle of poverty. The foundation’s work is not just about education - it’s about empowerment, healing and hope.

The Vice-Chancellor at the UWC, Prof Robert Balfour, said, “The values that Amy Biehl embodied align closely with those of UWC, and the University continues to support the efforts of the Foundation to realise the potential of youth to unlock a better future for South Africa.”

This year’s commemoration of Amy’s life, held at the Amy Biehl Memorial Site in Gugulethu, was especially poignant. It marked 32 years since her passing and served as a reminder of how her story continues to inspire new generations. Learners from the Siyazingisa After School Programme performed in her honour, and her mother, Linda Biehl, alongside Ntobeko Peni - one of the men once convicted of Amy’s murder and now a respected youth mentor at the foundation - laid flowers.

September’s Heritage Month theme, “Celebrating the lives of our heroes and heroines who laid down their lives for our freedom,” could not be more fitting. Amy Biehl, though not South African by birth, became one of the country’s most powerful symbols of reconciliation. Her story is woven into the fabric of South Africa’s heritage and is a reminder that healing is possible, even in the face of unimaginable pain.

At UWC, where Amy once walked the hallways and worked tirelessly at the Community Law Centre, her legacy is honoured through memorial lectures. Former Minister Trevor Manuel once told a crowd gathered at the University: “The work Amy did at the Community Law Centre speaks to what youth spirit is about. Young people must be inspired by the work Amy did.”

Indeed, Amy’s life and death continue to challenge young South Africans to ask themselves: What am I prepared to do to make this country a better place? Her story is not just about the past - it is a call to action for the present and future.

As we celebrate Heritage Month, we are reminded that heritage is not only about language, culture or tradition. It is also about values - about the courage to forgive, the strength to rebuild, and the will to empower others. Amy Biehl’s legacy embodies all of these.

In a country still healing from the wounds of its past, through her mother Linda Biehl, who visited SA as part of the commemoration of her death, the Amy Foundation stands as a beacon of what is possible when compassion triumphs over hatred. It is a living tribute to a young woman who believed in South Africa’s potential and gave her life for its future.

This September, as we honour the heroes and heroines of our nation, let us remember Amy Biehl - not just for how she died, but for how she lived. Her legacy is not one of tragedy, but of transformation, and through the work of the Amy Foundation, her spirit continues to light the way.

The Foundation welcomes financial assistance to fund its various projects, and can be reached at info@amyfoundation.co.za.