GQEBERHA – The Cradock Four inquest continued today, 26 March for its fourth day this week at the Gqeberha High Court.
Taking the stand virtually was 86-year-old Barend Jacobus du Plessis, former Minister of Finance who retired on 31 March 1992. Du Plessis testified regarding his knowledge of the 1985 killings of apartheid-era activists Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkhonto; collectively known as the Cradock Four.
In November 1983, Du Plessis was appointed as Minister of Education and Training, becoming both a Cabinet Minister and member of the State Security Council.
When asked about the November 1983 disciplinary review meeting, he denied he had any prior knowledge of the plans to murder the Cradock Four; particularly Goniwe and Calata, who were educators at the time.
“I emphatically deny that I had any involvement and/or knowledge relating to the planning and/or execution of the murders of the Cradock Four,” he claimed.
Adamus Stemmet, a former Department of the Prime Minister, Deputy Head of the National Security branch, shared yesterday that there was a misunderstanding in what was meant when the Cradock Four were to be “removed from society.”
The Director General submitted the case of a teacher [allegedly Goniwe] in Cradock for “removal” to Graaff Reinet. He was regarded as a “good mathematics educator.”
Du Plessis’ statement reads: “Despite earlier cautionary notices to Goniwe, he had persisted with this behaviour, and the situation had reached a stage that had become detrimental to operations in the rest of the school, making his removal inevitable. I later learnt that he had refused the transfer to Graaff Reinet.”
The court also heard that one of the issues discussed was that Goniwe had been spending excessive school time on political activities instead of being in the classroom. It was then in March 1984 when the State Security Council (SSC) decided that “agitators,” like Goniwe, should be “removed” from schools.
Regarding the meaning of the word “remove,” du Plessis said the word was corrupted. “It became a euphemism of absolute killing. I wanted them [Goniwe and Calata] removed temporarily, not permanently,” the court heard.
He also added that it took 19 months for the permanent removal of the Cradock Four. “It was strange to me, I learnt later what the word was taken to mean, from the media. After 19 months, it tainted my reputation because I was not involved,” he claimed.
“We wanted Goniwe in Graaff-Reinet,” he affirmed; however, looking at the minutes taken during the meeting, there was no mention of “removing to Graaff-Reinet,” purely that they needed to be removed.
Dismissively, du Plessis said whilst answering, “I am trying my best to be truthful, and if that does not meet your requirements, it’s your court.”
In court today, family members of the Cradock Four were present, including their sons Nyaniso Goniwe, Lukhanyo Calata and Lonwabo Mkhonto, as well as Nomonde Calata, the wife of Fort Calata, and Nombuyiselo Mhlauli, the wife of Sicelo Mhlauli.
The matter continues tomorrow, 27 March for the cross-examination of Eugene de Kock.
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