Cradock Four inquest resumes amid hopes for justice

Families of Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkhonto, and Sicelo Mhlauli packed the courtroom on Monday, holding onto hope that this legal process would finally deliver truth and accountability for the murders of their loved ones by apartheid-era police.

This is the third formal inquest into the case. The first, held in 1987 under the apartheid government, concluded that the activists were killed by “unknown persons.”

A second in 1994 acknowledged police responsibility but failed to name individuals. 

Now, four decades later, families are demanding answers and consequences.

In his opening remarks, the lawyer for the families, Howard Varney, told Judge Thami Mbeshe that the killings were not rogue acts by individual officers, but instead part of an orchestrated and sanctioned state plan.

"We intend to demonstrate that the deaths of the Cradock Four were brought about by a way of a calculated and premeditated decision by the apartheid regime. It was meticulously planned by the security branch in an official operation

"This was no private frolic or errant police officers departing from official instructions or policy. The killers did exactly what they were told to do and exactly what was expected of them."

Varney also stated that the families had petitioned President Cyril Ramaphosa to explain why these cases were suppressed for so long.

"The state has instead systematically or deliberately dragged its feet or blocked justice in this case and the other TRC cases. Some 25 families on the foundation of human rights launched an application on the 20th of January 2025. They are seeking a declaration of the family's rights.

"They're seeking constitutional damages as well as an order compelling the president to establish a commission of inquiry into why their cases were suppressed, and I am pleased to advise that the president recently promulgated in the gazette the establishment of such a commission."

He further raised concerns over the impact of delays, pointing out that most of the individuals linked to the murders have since died, including members of the police hit squad and apartheid government officials.

"Virtually all of them have died, as mentioned, all six members of the police hit squad have died, all the masterminds against whom there was a prima facie case have died.

"The primary reason behind this monumental failure of justice has been the political interference which effectively killed off most of the TRC cases."

The legal team identified 49 persons tied to the case, now deceased, including former SAP Commissioner Johannes van der Merwe, apartheid-era president F.W. de Klerk, and National Intelligence Director Lucas Daniel Nirvana, who died in January this year.

Representing the families alongside Varney, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC,  said the inquest aims to not only uncover the whole truth but also secure reparations for generational trauma.

"There is also a possibility of closure from a perspective of psychological trauma."

He confirmed that General Bantu Holomisa, who played a unique role as head of the Transkei military council in the 1980s, is expected to testify.

“He received a dossier that contained information about what had transpired to the Cradock Four. He will explain what dossier he received, what he did with that dossier upon receiving it."

The inquest will run until 12 June, and will include an inspection in loco at key sites including the Goniwe family home in Nxuba (formerly Cradock), the Cradock Four Monument, and Olifantskop Pass, where the activists were abducted.

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