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Cradock Four: Why apartheid victims are suing South Africa’s government

 

Nearly four decades have passed since the Cradock Four—Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto, and Sicelo Mhlauli—were abducted, tortured, and murdered by apartheid police in a heinous act that shocked the world on June 27, 1985. These men, who were unwavering in their resistance to the apartheid regime, paid the ultimate price for their activism. Their deaths were intended to stifle dissent but instead mobilized even greater resistance, casting them as martyrs of South Africa’s liberation struggle. Today, their families are once again stepping into the spotlight, filing a $9 million lawsuit against the South African government for its failure to deliver justice.

The Cradock Four’s story remains a haunting reminder of the brutality of apartheid. These activists, particularly Goniwe and Calata, were central to grassroots resistance in the Eastern Cape. Their bodies, discovered burned and abandoned in separate locations near what is now Gqeberha, symbolized the apartheid regime’s ruthless resolve to extinguish opposition. Yet, their deaths ignited a louder call for change, culminating in their funeral, which served as a massive rallying cry for freedom.

Despite their indelible legacy, justice has been elusive. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which offered hope for accountability in the post-apartheid era, identified six apartheid-era officials tied to their murders. But none of these men—Eric Alexander Taylor, Gerhardus Johannes Lotz, Johan van Zyl, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Hermanus Barend du Plessis, and Colonel Harold Snyman—were ever prosecuted. Over the years, one by one, they passed away, the last being Colonel Johan van Zyl in May 2023. For the families, these deaths marked the bitter close of a chapter they never consented to end.

“This isn’t just about the past; this is about rebuilding trust in the promise of democracy,” said Lukhanyo Calata, Fort Calata’s bereaved son and a resolute advocate for justice. His words underscore both the deep disillusionment felt by families of apartheid-era victims and the broader implications of unaddressed atrocities on South African society.

The lawsuit filed against President Cyril Ramaphosa and other high-ranking officials paints a damning picture of post-apartheid South Africa’s justice system. Families accuse successive administrations of suppressing TRC-era prosecutions to preserve political alliances and appease entrenched powers. Indeed, of the 400 apartheid crimes the TRC recommended for prosecution, most have languished, including notorious cases like the 1993 Highgate Hotel Massacre. Allegations have further implicated former President Thabo Mbeki’s administration in actively burying these cases—a claim Mbeki denies. However, the prevailing narrative remains one of frustration and betrayal that mars South Africa’s still-nascent democracy.

The families’ demands stretch beyond financial restitution. Their $9 million lawsuit is paired with a call for an independent commission to investigate alleged political interference in TRC-related prosecutions. For them, this is as much about truth-telling and national healing as it is about reparations. “This is about truth and healing,” said Thembi Nkadimeng, South Africa’s housing minister and a co-applicant in the case, whose sister also fell victim to apartheid violence. According to Nkadimeng and other supporters, reparations could help address intergenerational trauma, fund new investigations, and ensure that the sacrifices of apartheid’s countless victims are incorporated into South Africa’s collective memory.

 

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