Investigation into infamous apartheid-era murders begins in South Africa.

An inquest has commenced regarding one of the most infamous murders of South Africa’s apartheid period, with a former general claiming he did not command the killings of four individuals known as the Cradock Four.

On 27 June 1985, security officers halted Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkonto at a roadblock, where they were assaulted, strangled with telephone wire, stabbed, and killed by gunfire.

Investigations into the murders of the four activists took place in 1987 and 1993, prior to South Africa’s inaugural democratic elections in 1994. In 1999, the nation’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission denied amnesty to six security officers for their involvement in the murders. They were never charged and have all passed away since then.

Howard Varney, an attorney representing the families of the Cradock Four, stated in his initial remarks during the inquest at the high court located in Gqeberha city: “These were four young men who had so much to offer South Africa . The searing pain of their absence persists with the families to this day.”

During a prior inquest, it was disclosed that Joffel van der Westhuizen, the ex-military leader of the Eastern Province at that time, communicated with the apartheid regime’s state security council, seeking authorization to “permanently eliminate from society urgently” the “agitators.” Another general who got the message contended that it indicated arresting the men, not executing them.

In an opening remark, Van der Westhuizen’s attorney stated, “he denies having ever approved or commanded the murder of the deceased.”

The attorney mentioned that the ex-general was “not in great health” and had, to date, been unable to secure payment for his legal fees from the South African military. The attorney contended that witnesses, including nine relatives of the Cradock Four, could not provide testimony that linked Van der Westhuizen unless he had sponsored legal defense.

Judge Thami Beshe stated that during the initial segment of the inquest, running until 12 June, witnesses may mention Van der Westhuizen and three former police officers still living, provided they utilize only publicly available information.

Calata’s son, Lukhanyo Calata, said: “Today is emotional. Good emotion. We’ve waited so many years to finally get to this point, where a court in democratic South Africa finally gets to hear the Cradock Four case.”

Calata, who is a journalist, noted that some Afrikaners, the white minority that ruled South Africa during apartheid and the same ethnicity as his father’s killers, were promoting the false claim that there was a “genocide” against them, a claim amplified by the US president, Donald Trump.

He added: “What we are hoping for now is to correct the historic record.”