An inquest has started into the 1985 murders of South African activists known as the Cradock Four, with former general Joffel van der Westhuizen denying involvement. The activists were killed by security forces, with prior inquests yielding little justice. Although the Truth and Reconciliation Commission refused amnesty to several implicated officers, no prosecutions occurred. A lawyer representing the victims' families highlighted the ongoing emotional impact on relatives. Witness testimonies may hinge on the former general's legal support, as he faces financial challenges.
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.
Joffel van der Westhuizen, the former military commander, sent a message to the apartheid regime's state security council requesting permission to remove permanently from society the agitators.
Van der Westhuizen denies ever authorising or ordering the killing of the deceased. The witnesses could not implicate him unless he had legal representation.
Judge Thami Beshe ruled that witnesses could refer to Van der Westhuizen's actions, highlighting the ongoing struggle for justice and closure for the families.
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