Decades Later, South Africa Still Seeks Justice for the Cradock Four
A biting winter chill hung over the Cradock cemetery, where the neglected graves of four apartheid activists marked a somber reminder of brutality and injustice. Decades after their untimely deaths, the story of the Cradock Four resonates deeply, interwoven with South Africa’s ongoing quest for truth and reconciliation.
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The Painful Legacy of Apartheid
In 1985, Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkhonto—three teachers and a unionist—were murdered in one of apartheid’s most notorious acts of violence. Their tragic history has resurfaced in a poignant courtroom inquest in Gqeberha, a city along the Indian Ocean that’s grappling with its past under its new name, shedding the colonial legacy of being called Port Elizabeth.
The families of the slain men, still bearing the emotional scars, are driven by a steadfast commitment to uncover the truth. Lukhanyo Calata, a journalist and son of Fort Calata, reflects, “We are not going to rest in this matter until there is some form of justice.” Barely in school when his father was killed, Lukhanyo seeks closure that has been painfully elusive.
Continuing Injustice
The journey for justice has been riddled with obstacles. “I was pregnant and my hope was taken away … everything was taken away in such a brutal manner,” recalls Nomonde Calata, widow of Fort. She recounts the loneliness and devastation that followed her husband’s death—a moment she faced alone because showing pain would invite ridicule from the oppressive regime.
The initial inquest in 1985, conducted in Afrikaans—a language foreign to many victims—failed to identify the killers. Further inquiries confirmed police involvement but withheld names. Even the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, under Desmond Tutu’s leadership, could only reveal so much. Six implicated policemen received no amnesty but also no prosecution, leaving those seeking justice in limbo.
A Nation’s Unhealed Wounds
The Cradock Four’s story is emblematic of a broader struggle within South Africa, where numerous families impacted by apartheid-era crimes still seek accountability. Despite the formal end of apartheid in 1994, systemic barriers persist, hindering efforts to prosecute past atrocities. Questions of political interference and administrative failures exacerbate a nation’s suffering, compelling President Cyril Ramaphosa to launch an inquiry into these prolonged delays.
Lukhanyo expresses skepticism about past authorities: “They did everything that they could to protect themselves.” This sentiment echoes among those who witnessed the apartheid regime’s brutality firsthand and feared the state’s retribution at a time when solidarity was both a shield and a target.
The Long Road to Reconciliation
The ongoing inquest in Gqeberha offers hope for a new chapter. Unlike previous hearings, it features live testimony surrounded by public engagement, keeping the discourse alive in South Africa’s collective consciousness. The court even revisited the site of the activists’ ambush, symbolically intertwining past and present in an emotional pilgrimage for witnesses, family members, and the nation.
For Nomonde Calata, the weight of memories remains heavy. Confronted by a confession from a former police officer before his death, she asserts, “He robbed me of the love of my husband, he robbed the children of the love of their father. I will not and did not forgive.”
A Community’s Unwavering Memory
Back in Cradock, now renamed Nxuba, the elder generations hold vivid memories of the activists. “I grew up in front of those people,” says Sibongile Mbina Mbina, recalling the profound influence the men had as teachers and community leaders. Meanwhile, Mawonga Goniwe, whose uncle was among the murdered, emphasizes, “The truth must come out … they must face what they have done.”
The Cradock Four’s story prompts broader reflections on justice, healing, and the power of memory in nation-building. How can a society reconcile with a past filled with pain? What must be done to ensure that their sacrifices are neither forgotten nor in vain?
As South Africa navigates these questions, its pursuit of justice for the Cradock Four stands as a symbol of resilience, urging us to confront difficult truths in pursuit of a fairer future.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
