THE story of the Cradock Four political activists, who were murdered by the apartheid forces 34 years ago, will receive a memorial that will be seen as one of the best liberation heritage landmarks in South Africa.
This pristine garden of remembrance will be officially unveiled in Cradock by the Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, to celebrate Human Rights Day today, March 21 from 10:00 to 14:30.
The unveiling was preceded by a fund-raising dinner yesterday, hosted by the Cradock Four Trust.
The guests included various dignitaries, as well as the families of the four heroes who were celebrated.
Adv Sonwabile Mancotywa, CEO of the National Heritage Council of South Africa said, “We welcome this new addition to the heritage property estate.
“It is a clear illustration that liberation heritage has the potential to elevate tourism into an economic hub and a place of social memory for the country.”
The Cradock Four Garden of Remembrance is in Cradock’s Lingelihle township.
It consists of four tall concrete pillars, erected to honour the four anti-apartheid activists assassinated by the secret police in 1985.
The four men were Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata and Sicelo Mhlauli, who were all school teachers and activists, as well as Sparrow Mkonto, a railway worker and unionist.
