Ramaphosa describes ‘great tree’ Bizos as champion of the oppressed
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described late human rights lawyer George Bizos as a champion of the oppressed.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described late human rights lawyer George Bizos as a champion of the oppressed.
Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy for the activist at a special official funeral on Thursday.
The anti-apartheid activist passed away at his Johannesburg home at the age of 92 last week.
“It is only the rarest of individuals who the title of ‘champion of the oppressed’ has been bestowed,” said Ramaphosa.
“He was, in his own words, a lover of freedom. And love of freedom would put him on an inevitable collision course with the apartheid state.
“He was destined to be an activist lawyer and a champion of the liberation struggle.”
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Ramaphosa also described Bizos, who was famously part of the legal team which defended Nelson Mandela during the Rivonia Trial in 1964, as a great tree.
“A great tree has fallen.
“A tree that gave shade to the patriots that founded our great nation and sheltered the poor, the marginalised and the vulnerable. We are bidding farewell to a titan of the legal profession whose defence of the cause of justice was as tenacious as it was lifelong.”
Bizos will be laid to rest at Westpark Cemetery.