Latest news with #FortCalata
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
'Cradock Four' inquest: Son of Calata drops bombshell that his dad died for his activism
JOHANNESBURG - The son of slain apartheid activist Fort Calata has testified before an inquest that he was told by a senior government official that his father's case was part of the price that had to be paid during negotiations for South Africa's freedom. The Cradock inquest is on its fifth day in the Gqeberha High Court, and Lukhanyo Calata is on the witness stand. The inquiry is to establish whether the apartheid security branch police or any other people can be held liable for the deaths of the anti-apartheid activists. Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkhonto were abducted and assassinated by police in 1985. IN PICS: Gqeberha High Court Judge visits key locations linked to lives of 'Cradock Four' It's a widespread rumour that the negotiators of South Africa's freedom in the run-up to democracy may have agreed to certain conditions that have led to most black South Africans remaining disadvantaged, and the perpetrators of apartheid crimes being let off the hook. But on Friday, in the 'Cradock Four' inquest, the son of Calata, Lukhanyo, told the Gqeberha High Court of a conversation he had with the Deputy Minister of Justice, John Jeffrey, in 2017. 'The deputy minister said you know the issues of the TRC [Truth and Reconciliation Commission], including the 'Cradock Four' matter, was part of the price that had to be paid for the negotiation settlement. When he said that my blood was boiling, because what did he mean that this was part of the price that had to be paid?' Calata said his family was not willing to accept that his father was used by politicians as a pawn in some kind of negotiation game. ALSO READ: Judge visits locations related to killings of Cradock Four
eNCA
5 days ago
- General
- eNCA
Wheels of justice turn as inquests continue
GQEBERHA - On Tuesday, the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha visited the home of struggle hero, Matthew Goniwe. The court is holding an inquest into his death and that of Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkonto. The Cradock 4 inquest is but one of many inquiries into apartheid-era crimes. SA Human Rights Commissioner, Tshepo Madlingozi, discussed the progress of the prosecution of historical crimes.
The Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Court retraces steps of Cradock Four
News Inspection held in Nxuba as part of inquest into deaths of activists Premium By Riaan Marais - 03 June 2025 From the hill in the suburb of Bergsig, overlooking Nxuba, state security services had an uninterrupted view of Lingelihle Township — particularly the home of political activist Matthew Goniwe. It was from that hill where they continuously monitored the movements of the Cradock Four, and in 1985 slowly formulated their sinister plans to have Goniwe and his comrades, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli, eliminated...
IOL News
6 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Cradock Four inquest resumes after nearly 40 years of silence
The inquest into the deaths of activists Sicelo Mhlauli, Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe and Sparrow Mkhonto, known as the Cradock Four, has resumed for the third time. The four men were killed by Apartheid security forces in June 1985. Image: File picture: Benny Gool/Independent Media Archives More than 39 years after the murder of the Cradock Four and decades of unanswered questions, the third inquest into the deaths of the Cradock Four officially got under way at the Gqeberha High Court, in the Eastern Cape on Monday. The families of Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli are hoping this renewed legal process will finally bring closure and accountability for the brutal killings of the four anti-apartheid activists who were tortured in 1985. The family's legal representative, Howard Varney, said that the death of the four young men was meticulously planned by the Apartheid security branch. "According to autopsy reports, Mhlauli died from stab wounds; Calata died from stabbing in the heart; Mkhonto died from a gunshot wound to the head and (was) stabbed in the heart. Mhlauli's body was found with a missing hand. "It is quite apparent that before death, the four were brutally tortured and mutilated. The Apartheid police created a cover story saying they were killed by elements from the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO) in a factional dispute. We intend to demonstrate that the death of the Cradock Four was brought about by way of a calculated and a premeditated decision by the Apartheid regime. It was meticulously planned by the security branch in an official operation," he stated. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Advocate Tembela Ngukaitobi, who represents some of the Goniwe family members, said he is hopeful that the truth will eventually come out in the latest inquest. "There is a high possibility that the full truth will emerge and some level of closure for the families would put an end to psychological trauma," he said. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi attended the first day of the resumption of the inquest with departmental spokesperson, Terrence Manase indicating that 'this inquest forms part of ongoing efforts by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to address unresolved cases from the apartheid era and to advance justice and closure for affected families and communities". The inquest into the deaths of the four activists was previously halted due to funding challenges. Kubayi indicated that the state has in the past funded and supported multiple inquests and prosecutions, adding that a presidential Commission of Inquiry will determine whether anyone in government deliberately stalled these cases. 'It is worth to note that even now, President Cyril Ramaphosa has opened and appointed a commission to deal with the issues. I think we must allow for the commission to determine from where we are sitting that there hasn't been any deliberate delays in prosecuting or even bringing the cases that relates to apartheid crimes into court,' the minister said.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
South Africa reopens inquiry into murders of 4 apartheid-era activists by police hit squad
A South African court opened an inquest on Monday into the murders 40 years ago of four anti-apartheid activists by a police hit squad in one of the most notorious atrocities of the apartheid era. No one has been brought to justice for the 1985 killings of the so-called Cradock Four, and their families have accused the post-apartheid government of intervening to block the case from going to trial. Teachers Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe and Sicelo Mhlauli and railway worker Sparrow Mkonto were abducted and killed while returning home from a political meeting in the southern town of Cradock. 'After 40 years, the families are still waiting for justice and closure,' Advocate Howard Varney, representing relatives of the four men, told the court in an opening statement. 'We intend to demonstrate that the deaths of the Cradock Four were brought about by way of a calculated and premeditated decision of the apartheid regime taken at the highest level of the government's state security system,' Varney told the court in the Eastern Cape city of Gqeberha. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up to uncover political crimes carried out under apartheid refused amnesty to six men for the Cradock Four killings.
