Witness History The Cradock Four killings
Sep 29, 2025
Lucanio Kalata, son of activist Fort Calata, shares his harrowing childhood experience regarding the Cradock Four murders—tragic events from 1985 where four anti-apartheid activists were brutally killed. He recalls the fear of his father's funeral at just three years old, the shocking details of the abduction, and the overwhelming public response. Lucanio discusses the failed justice efforts post-apartheid and his family's relentless campaign for accountability, shedding light on the enduring quest for truth surrounding this dark chapter in history.
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Fort Kalata’s Dual Legacy
- Fort Kalata was a committed teacher who spent his own money to feed pupils and led local anti-apartheid organising in Cradock.
- Lucanio recalls his father as strict but generous and politically active, shaping the family's legacy.
Local Self-Governance Provoked Repression
- Cradock developed a grassroots self-governance that challenged apartheid and inspired neighbouring towns to resist.
- That visible local liberation effort likely led security forces to target community leaders for elimination.
The Night They Were Taken
- On 27 June 1985 Fort Kalata and three comrades were stopped at a roadblock and abducted by security forces returning from Port Elizabeth.
- Their bodies were later found burnt beyond recognition with multiple stab wounds and other mutilations.