Picture: Advocate George Bizos
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The heartfelt condolence messages continue to pour into the family and friends of the renowned struggle icon and human rights lawyer, advocate George Bizos who died on Wednesday.
Bizos was born in Greece, but fled his Nazi occupation of his native Greece at age 13 to become one of South Africa’s prominent human rights lawyers. His health continued to deteriorate over the years.
South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) chairperson in the North West, Paul Sebegoe said Bizos was a revolutionary intellectual and a selfless jurist who had set the bar for South Africa’s legal system very high.
“Bizos principled leadership, wise legal counsel and cardinal contribution towards our constitutional democracy, rule of law, human rights values including the reconciliation, nation-building, and social cohesion as well as reclaiming the values that underpinned the struggle for liberation will be sorely missed.
“He represented a generation of fearless and selfless leaders that stood against the might of the apartheid state. It could be rightly argued that Bizos saved the late ANC president and world icon, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki as well as Walter Sisulu from receiving the death sentence and going to the gallows during the Rivonia treason trial,” he said.
Sebegoe said they were confident that Bizos would bounce back to good health, after he fell and hit his head on the night that he received the deserved Freedom of Johannesburg after a public lecture hosted at Wits University four years ago.
He further said Bizos was an internationalist, a great fighter, a defender of the defenseless downtrodden and marginalised, conscience of our nation as well as a humble patriot who made an invaluable contribution towards creating a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, peaceful, and prosperous society,” said Sebegoe.
It was reported that Bizos who was 87 year of age at that time, fell and hit his head two days after receiving the award after a public lecture hosted in his honour and the late ANC stalwart as well as Rivonia trialist, Andrew Mlangeni at Wits University and was admitted to the institution’s Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Parktown.
The university newspaper, the Wits Vuvuzela had at the time reported that after the fall, Bizos was bleeding from his neck and was helped to his feet by guests who attended the lecture.
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation spokesperson, Zaakirah Vadi said the foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of Bizos. Vadi expressed sincere condolences to the family, friends, and comrades of Bizos.
“The foundation recalls the extremely close personal friendship between its founder, Ahmed Kathrada and the late Bizos. We remember Bizos fighting back tears at the Westpark Cemetery as he remembered the life and times of Kathrada. “At the time, Bizos said that Kathy was known for dedicating his life to the cause of the struggle and the realisation of freedom in South Africa. He said Kathrada was a brave man with a sense of humour,” said Vadi.
He further said today they fight back their tears in memory of Bizos. Vadi added that Bizos was a great South African, who dedicated his life to fighting apartheid through the courts.
“We reiterate Kathrada’s remarks about Bizos. Kathrada said Bizos stand in that long tradition of great human beings who although not born in this country did so much to contribute to its well-being.
“Bizos was a highly respected, renowned, and internationally acclaimed South African lawyer. He was an outstanding human rights activist who made his mark under apartheid while defending among other ANC leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu , and Ahmed Kathrada during the 1964 Rivonia Trial,” concluded Vadi.
The Guardian 