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In a haunting reminder of the violence that marred South Africa’s past, the families of the Cradock Four—Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkonto—continue their relentless quest for justice, over four decades after the men were brutally murdered. Their tragic story, emblematic of apartheid’s cruel legacy, underscores the inadequacies of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the ongoing struggles faced by victims’ families in the pursuit of accountability.
The Night of Terror
On 27 June 1985, darkness cloaked the road as the Cradock Four set out from a meeting of anti-apartheid activists in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha. Less than an hour into their journey, the group was intercepted by white security police, handcuffed, and forcibly taken back towards the city. In a horrifying turn of events, Mkonto was shot during a scuffle, while the others were bludgeoned into unconsciousness. Authorities later staged the
