Calata Foundation
The much-anticipated reopening of the inquest into the murders of the anti-apartheid activists known as the Cradock Four, is expected to be postponed when the matter comes before the high court in Gqeberha on Monday.
The families, who are still seeking justice forty years on, have lamented yet another delay.
This is due to the lawyers of the former police and army witnesses saying they had too little time to prepare and were not able to secure state funding for their clients, Eugene de Kock, Izak Engelbrecht, Christoffel van der Westhuizen, and Craig Williamson.
The "historic" inquest was scheduled to run from 2 to 20 September 2024 before Justice Nomatamsanqa Beshe, following an announcement by former Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola.
In January he announced the decision to reopen the inquest into the assassination of Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkonto at the hands of the apartheid regime on 27 June 1985.
In a notification on Thursday from the Foundation for Human Rights and legal firm Cliffe, Dekker Hofmeyr, which is representing the families of the Cradock 4, they said the inquest "has collapsed" and will not proceed as originally scheduled.
"The inquest will be formally postponed in Court on Monday, 2 September to new dates.
"Legal representatives of the former SAP and SADF witnesses complained that they were notified too late to prepare for the inquest and have not been able to secure state funding for their legal costs," they said.
They added that Judge Beshe issued an order on 12 August, that the State Attorney, the SAPS and SANDF expedite the "payment of the reasonable legal costs" of the former state officials in order to prevent the further delay of the inquest.
This application is expected to be opposed by the state on Monday when they bring an application for the rescission of Judge Mbeshe's order.
Lukhanyo Calata, the son of Fort Calata and founder of the Calata Foundation, said it was a bittersweet moment for the families.
"As the Cradock Four families we are very pleased that on Monday, 2 September, a court in democratic South Africa will sit to hear the matter of the Cradock 4, even if it is an inquest.
"However, we are dismayed at the fact that the matter will be delayed yet again. This time it is to allow witnesses, potential suspects, for them to finalise their legal matters." he said.
He said the families find the situation disheartening.
"As you know, Mrs Goniwe has already passed, and our mothers are really getting older and we cannot afford any more delays with finding out the truth around the deaths of our fathers.
"So, we are saddened that this matter is going to be delayed again. But, then on the other hand this is quite historic because for the first time in democratic South Africa, a court is going to sit to hear a matter that relates to the assassinations of the Cradock 4.
"A bitter-sweet moment for us, but a step in the right direction, if only if it wasn't for the delay and the postponement off-course," he told Algoa FM News.
