10 September 2020

The South African Communist Party (SACP) sends heartfelt condolences to the families of our struggle stalwarts, Achmat Dangor and George Bizos. Achmat Dangor was a poet, novelist and human rights activist, while George Bizos was a human rights lawyer who defended many of our comrades particularly during the anti-apartheid struggle.

A renowned progressive poet, novelist and human rights activist, Achmat Dangor mentored and inspired many of our people in their various individual and collective struggles. He earned respect among revolutionaries across the world for his contribution - through poetry and literary works - in the fight against the apartheid regime. He was an active member of several writers’ bodies that consistently raised voices against apartheid, such as Black Thoughts, the Writers’ Forum, and the Congress of South African Writers which he co-founded.

Like many other anti-apartheid activists, his role as the voice of the voiceless attracted the wrath of the apartheid regime. The regime thus banned him from 1973 to 1978 for his activities.

With the fall of apartheid, he did not retire into the background. He participated in several bodies that were assisting apartheid victims, including the Kagiso Trust and the Nelson Mandela’s Children Trust. He also headed the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund as the CEO from 2007 to 2013. He died on 6 September 2020.

George Bizos was one of the most respected and revered human rights lawyers in South Africa. His love for peace and freedom led him to dedicate his life, generously using his legal expertise, to fighting for the rights of the oppressed people during the apartheid era. A founding member of the National Council of Lawyers for Human Rights (1979), he defended many political activists in apartheid courts. Some of the most prominent political cases include the Rivonia Trial (1963-1964) where he formed part of the legal team that defended revolutionaries such as Ahmed Kathrada, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Denis Goldberg and Walter Sisulu, among others.

He also represented the family of Ahmed Timol, an SACP member who was murdered in detention by apartheid police in 1971, in the initial inquest.

Post-apartheid, George Bizos continued his fight for the enjoyment of human rights by all, especially as enshrined in the democratic constitution. During the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in the 1990s, he represented some of the families of apartheid victims. Among those were the families of the Cradock Four – Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlawuli. In the process, he was able to block amnesty applications of many murderers of our struggle martyrs.

He also gave his support for the legal contestation of the initial ruling of the magistrate that Ahmed Timol had committed suicide. He testified in the second inquest of 2017, proving the torture of Timol by the apartheid police. His testimony contributed in no small measure to the finding by the North Gauteng High Court in 2017 that there was indeed clear evidence that Timol had been pushed out through the window, leading to his death. The court thus directed that those responsible for his death be prosecuted.

Bizos consistently opposed applications for release on parole made by Janusz Waluś, the unrepentant murderer of Chris Hani, SACP General Secretary. Bizos appeared in court in this regard and supported Hani’s family as well as the SACP and also made public his principled standpoint against the release of Waluś. Waluś, who still claims that he hates communists with passion, which he said was what motivated him to assassinate Hani, must remain in jail. There has been no full disclosure of the truth and all the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Chris Hani. The SACP continues to oppose the assassin's release on parole.

In 1999, President Nelson Mandela bestowed upon George Bizos the Order for Meritorious Service Class II medal. Until his death Bizos stood on the cause for justice. George Bizos died on 9 September 2020.

In memory of these stalwarts of our struggle for liberation and social emancipation, the SACP calls for the deepening of the principled fight for justice and universal emancipation. The unity of the working-class is paramount in this regard.