Cradock Four inquest postponed to June 2025

The Cradock Four inquest has been postponed to June 2025.

This, was after the Gqeberha High Court in the Eastern Cape heard two applications over who should be responsible for the legal costs for the inquest.

The inquest which was set to start on Monday and run until September 20 was postponed due to the two applications filed by the State Attorney and Mbulelo Goniwe – the nephew of late anti-apartheid activist and one of the Cradock Four members, Matthew Goniwe.

The start of the inquests will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Cradock Four deaths.

This is the third inquest for this case.

There were 49 people of interest at the start of the inquest. There are now only five people and all range from the ages of 75 to 88.

The families of the victims feel they have been dealt yet another bitter blow with the latest postponement.

“I am so disappointed, heartbroken. I don’t even know what to say. It’s been 39 years? It’s not a new thing. My heart is broken,” says Nomonde Calata – the widow of Fort Calata.

Another widow, Nombuyiselo Mhlauli says her husband Sicelo Mhlauli was brutally murdered.

“They threw acid on his face. They cut his right hand off. Why? That’s all I want to know why. So brutally. Why? And now I must wait another nine months to get an answer.”

“I was quite disappointed to see that Joffie and Eugene were not in court today. I wanted to shake their hand. To be intentional about greeting them. I think it’s an important thing to do. I mean they are so old. Will they even be alive come June next year?” says Lukhanyo Calata, son of Fort Calata.

Video: Cradock Four Inquest – Families react to inquest postponement

Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is confident that the state will be willing to cover the legal costs.

“I cannot speak for the state or the minister, but I don’t foresee any problems or denial in the granting the covering of the legal costs. We are quite disappointed over the postponement. Especially for nine months,” says Barry Madolo, Easter Cape Director of Public Prosecutions.

All cases that were referred to the NPA from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) have been further delegated to the Hawks for investigation in each of the various provinces.

The Cradock 4 case is one of 22 cases that the Hawks in the Eastern Cape are investigating.

“The challenge for us now is that this case is so old. Many of the people have died and it’s hard to find relevant evidence. But we believe we have gathered enough evidence and that the NPA has a strong case,” says Yoliswa Mgolodela, Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson.

The families say that justice to them, would just be the truth about what happened the night of June 27, 1985.

The inquest is set to run from June 2-20 next year.