Justice finally beckons for Cradock Four, September
THE families of the Cradock Four have been informed that they will only know in January whether the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) will go ahead with the prosecution over the deaths of their loved ones.
The families recently criticised the NPA for stonewalling them on whether they will institute proceedings against those responsible for the murders of Cradock Four activists Ford Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkonto and Sicelo Mhlauli .
The four were kidnapped and murdered by the apartheid security police.
Speaking to The Star’s sister paper, the Cape Argus, Lukhanyo Calata, Ford’s son, confirmed the NPA’s submission on Friday in Parliament that it had met the families on November 4.
Though MPs weren’t afforded details about the meeting, Calata said they were given a date early in the new year.
Calata said: “We found that the interaction was helpful. It was the first time someone as senior as the Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions (advocate Barry Madolo) had engaged with the widows in particular.
“We’re satisfied that there is some form of open communications between us as the families and the NPA,” Calata said.
“We’re happy that we’re able to track the investigation. This is where we’ve always wanted to be – in a position where we’re able to communicate as and when we want with the NPA to get updates. We’re in a good space, and we’re happy to continue to work with them. Of course, the NPA must now still deliver on its commitment to justice and prosecution.”
He said Madolo “assured” them that the NPA was working on the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) confirmed it was exploring options with regard to a probe into the 1988 assassination in France of Athlone-born ANC political activist Dulcie September.
This follows the hearing two weeks ago in a Paris court of final arguments in a civil case. The finding, due in a couple of weeks, will determine whether the French state should have acceded to September’s request twice for protection.
She was the chief representative of the ANC in France, Switzerland and Luxembourg at the time of her assassination in 1988. Her family have always argued that she deserved protection after she twice alerting local police to a threat on her life.
September’s nephew Michael Arendse said last week that the family had met investigators from the Hawks and that they were looking into the assassination. Arendse said that they welcomed the action.
Reached for comment, Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mbambo said the investigators were exploring ways to “tackle the matter, taking into consideration issues pertaining to jurisdiction”.