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Cradock Four
The third inquest into the deaths of the Cradock Four—anti-apartheid activists Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkonto—is underway in the Eastern Cape as of Monday. These four men were abducted and killed by security police in 1985 while leaving Gqeberha, then known as Port Elizabeth. This marks the third attempt to uncover the full truth behind their brutal murders. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi is attending the proceedings at the Gqeberha High Court, highlighting the case’s importance. Terrence Manase, the department’s spokesperson, stated 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 initial sitting is focused on recording the parties and legal representatives involved, while the judge will also decide on conducting an inspection at the original crime scenes. This inquest follows closely on the heels of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe to lead a judicial commission investigating whether apartheid-era crime probes were deliberately stalled.
Who Were the Cradock Four?
The Cradock Four were key figures in the fight against apartheid, hailing from the small Eastern Cape town of Cradock, now called Nxuba. Matthew Goniwe, a charismatic teacher, was a driving force in the United Democratic Front (UDF) and led efforts to organise Black communities through the Cradock Residents Association (CRADORA) and Cradock Youth Association (CRADOYA). Fort Calata, also a teacher, worked alongside Goniwe, mobilising residents against the injustices of apartheid. Sicelo Mhlauli, a school headmaster from Oudtshoorn and Goniwe’s childhood friend, was deeply involved in UDF activities. Sparrow Mkonto, a railway worker, held a senior role in CRADORA and was instrumental in community activism.
On 27 June 1985, the four men attended a UDF meeting in Gqeberha. As they drove back to Cradock, they were stopped at a roadblock by security police. What followed was a horrific ordeal—abduction, torture, and murder. Their bodies, found days later in separate locations, showed signs of extreme violence: stab wounds, burns, and mutilation. The apartheid government denied involvement, but the case became a symbol of the regime’s ruthless tactics to silence opposition.
A History of Inquests and Unanswered Questions
This is not the first time the deaths of the Cradock Four have been investigated. The initial inquest in 1987, held under apartheid rule, concluded that the men were killed by “unknown persons.” This vague finding was typical at the time, protecting those responsible from scrutiny. A second inquest in 1993, conducted as apartheid was crumbling, pointed the finger at security forces but stopped short of naming individuals. Leaked documents from 1992 had already revealed that Goniwe and Calata were targets of the Civil Cooperation Bureau, a notorious government death squad, yet no one faced charges.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), set up in 1996 to heal the wounds of apartheid, took up the case. In 1999, six former police officers—Harold Snyman, Eric Alexandra Taylor, Gerhardus Johannes Lotz, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Johan van Zyl, and Hermanus Barend du Plessis—sought amnesty. Their applications were rejected because they failed to fully disclose their roles. The TRC handed the case, along with about 300 others, to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action. Decades later, most of these cases, including the Cradock Four’s, remain unresolved, fuelling accusations of deliberate delays.
The Families’ Long Fight for Justice
For nearly 40 years, the families of the Cradock Four have refused to give up. In 2021, the Calata, Mhlauli, and Mkonto families went to the Pretoria High Court, demanding that the NPA and South African Police Service (SAPS) complete their investigations and decide on prosecutions. NPA head Shamila Batohi promised swift action, but no progress followed. The last surviving suspect, Hermanus Du Plessis, died in May 2023 at the age of 80, leaving the families with no one left to hold accountable in a criminal court.
Lukhanyo Calata, Fort Calata’s son, has been a leading voice in this struggle. “We would have preferred the prosecution of those implicated in this heinous act rather than reopen what amounts to a third inquest,” he said. “However, the avenue of prosecution was firmly shut down by spurious delays.” His mother, Nomonde Calata, widow of Fort, spoke of the pain of watching justice slip away. “It is a bittersweet moment for the families, who have watched the men responsible for the deaths of their husbands and fathers live out their lives in comfort and die without ever being held accountable,” she said. Now 76, Nomonde added, “We are getting older, and the perpetrators are dying. I am disappointed because it took such a long time to get to where we are now.”
Why the Inquest Was Reopened
The third inquest was announced in January 2024 by then-Justice Minister Ronald Lamola, spurred by new evidence from the TRC amnesty hearings. This evidence includes statements from the six officers who were denied amnesty, offering fresh details about the killings. With prosecution no longer an option, the inquest is seen as a final chance to uncover the truth and give the families some closure.
On Monday, the Gqeberha High Court began the process. The first day was procedural, with the court noting the parties and legal teams involved. The judge is also set to rule on whether to visit the original crime scenes—an inspection in loco—that could shed light on how the murders unfolded. Terrence Manase explained the broader goal: “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.”
A New Judicial Commission Steps In
Just days before the inquest began, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe to head a judicial commission of inquiry. This body will dig into allegations of “improper influence in delaying or hindering” apartheid-era cases, including whether SAPS and NPA officials were pressured to stall investigations. The move came after 25 survivors and relatives of apartheid victims took legal action, accusing post-1994 governments of ignoring the TRC’s recommendations.
Many, including the Cradock Four families, believe the African National Congress (ANC)-led governments chose national reconciliation over justice. Lukhanyo Calata put it bluntly: “Justice delayed in this manner has ensured that justice is permanently denied to our families.” Some suspect a secret deal between the post-apartheid government and the old regime to avoid prosecutions—a claim former President Thabo Mbeki has denied. In March 2024, Mbeki stated, “We never interfered in the work of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The executive never prevented the prosecutors from pursuing the cases referred to the NPA by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”
The commission’s findings could reshape how South Africa deals with its past, especially as fewer perpetrators remain alive to face justice.
New Details Deepen the Story
Beyond the information already known, additional details have emerged that highlight the stakes. Matthew Goniwe’s activism had made him a particular target—he was seen as a threat not just locally but nationally, with the apartheid government fearing his ability to rally rural communities. A secret signal from a high-ranking official to “permanently remove” Goniwe from society was uncovered years later, showing how calculated the killings were. Meanwhile, the emotional toll on the families has been immense. Nomonde Calata, for instance, raised her children alone after Fort’s death, all while keeping his memory alive in Cradock’s struggle for freedom.
The physical evidence from 1985 also paints a grim picture. Goniwe’s body was found burnt in a car, while the others were dumped in bushes, some with their hands tied. These details, preserved in police records and revisited in the TRC hearings, may resurface during the crime scene inspection, offering a stark reminder of the violence inflicted.
Why This Matters Now
The Cradock Four case is more than a single tragedy—it’s a window into South Africa’s unfinished business with apartheid. The third inquest and the Khampepe commission signal a renewed push to confront this history, even as time runs out. For the families, it’s about more than legal outcomes; it’s about dignity and recognition. As Nomonde Calata said, the slow pace has left them with mixed feelings—hope tempered by decades of disappointment.
For the nation, the outcome could set a precedent. If the commission uncovers evidence of interference, it might force a reckoning with how the transition to democracy balanced peace with accountability. With Minister Kubayi at the inquest and Justice Khampepe leading the inquiry, the government appears to be taking these issues seriously—at least for now.
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