Eugene de Kock, the former apartheid police commander infamous for his role in killing anti-apartheid activists during South Africa's era of forced racial segregation, testified Monday at an inquiry into the 1985 murders of four activists known as the Cradock Four.
Background
The Cradock Four — Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkonto — were three teachers and one student leader abducted by police at a roadblock in the Eastern Cape city of Gqeberha. Their bodies were found burned, becoming one of the most shocking cases of the apartheid era. The latest inquiry began last year after sustained pressure from the victims' families.
During Monday's testimony, de Kock denied involvement in the Cradock Four killings but revealed that police at the time maintained photos and files on approximately 6,000 anti-apartheid activists described as "known terrorists." He testified that orders existed to track and kill these individuals if an arrest was not possible. The Cradock Four were not on that list, he stated.
De Kock further testified that one of the police officers implicated in the killings had requested his assistance with a cover-up. "He wanted to know if I could get another firearm," de Kock said, adding that he was also asked "if we could interfere with the ballistics."
The Investigation
The 77-year-old de Kock, who was commander of a special counterinsurgency police unit during apartheid, was sentenced in 1996 to two life terms plus an additional 212 years in prison after being convicted of murder, kidnapping and other charges. He was released on parole in 2015.
Two previous inquiries conducted during apartheid were widely suspected of being cover-ups. The first, initiated in 1987, concluded the men were killed by unknown individuals. The second, beginning in 1993, determined they were slain by unnamed police officers.
Six former policemen implicated in the killings were never prosecuted despite being identified and denied amnesty during South Africa's post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation process in the late 1990s. All six have since died.
Key Takeaways
- The Cradock Four — Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkonto — were abducted by police in 1985 and their burned bodies found
- De Kock testified police maintained a list of 6,000 anti-apartheid activists designated as "known terrorists" for potential targeting
- Six former officers implicated in the killings were identified but never prosecuted; all have died
- Two apartheid-era inquiries into the case were suspected cover-ups
- De Kock was sentenced to two life terms plus 212 years in 1996, released on parole in 2015
What's Next
The inquiry continues as South African authorities have reopened multiple investigations into apartheid-era atrocities in recent years, including the deaths of Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Luthuli in 1967 and anti-apartheid figure Steve Biko, who died in police custody in 1977. President Cyril Ramaphosa last year ordered a separate inquiry to examine whether post-apartheid governments intentionally blocked investigations and prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes.
De Kock appeared under police guard at the Gqeberha court, with his image blurred on the official video broadcast after the judge ruled he not be shown. The Foundation for Human Rights is representing some of the victims' families in the proceedings.