CRADOCK – Cradock 4, Mr Barend Du Plessis dies leaving the families of the victims with now justice and the NPA no choice but to close the case.
The death of the remaining member of the Port Elizabeth Security Branch Unit that abducted and killed Fort Calata, Mathew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli and SParrow Mkhonto(Cradock 4). The 4 activists were brutally murdered on June 27, 1985.
The matter was picked up by the National Prosecution Association(NPA) in 2021 after the original case docket was missing and a new one was created by the NPA. The case was guided by the Eastern Cape Division Advocates who together with the members of the Doctorate of Priority of Crimes Investigation.
At that point and time several suspects implicated in the matter had past on except Barend Du Plessis. He could not be prosecuted due to a lack in evidence with the only available evidence being the testimony he gave before the truth and reconciliation commission, which is inadmissible.
NPA Spokesperson in Eastern Cape Division, Luxolo Tyali said, “It is unfortunate that he[Barend Du Plessis] passed away before he could account for his role in the killing of the activists We want to inform the public that the have been numerous engagements between the NPA, the four families of the deceased and thier legal representatives where they were given updates of the investigation process.”
Tyali further stated,” At this stage the Director of the Public Prosecutions had made a decision on the matter however the decision will be communicated first with the families before being made public.”
A truly devasting statement to hear and even more disappointing that another Apartheid-era crime has gone unaccounted for.
