Memorialisation of The Cradock Four

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Recreation & Cultural Services Department in collaboration with the NMMU Cultural Unit, the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy (CANRAD) and the NMMU Library & Information Services is proud to present the Memorialisation of The Cradock Four on Tuesday, 14 September 2010 at 18:00 in the Auditorium, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Campus, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth.

Prior to the lecture, The Cradock Four film will be screened.

“The Cradock Four” was made on High Definition over seven years. Forbes had to take the Department of Justice to court to gain access to open public records held by the National Archives and also overcame cancer during the making of the film, which won the prize, “Best South African Documentary Film” at the prestigious Durban International Film Festival in Durban in July 2010. The film was also nominated for the Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award. The film tells the story of one of Apartheid’s most heinous and iconic crimes.  Late on the night of 27 June 1985, South Africa’s Security Forces set up a roadblock near Port Elizabeth, and abducted Matthew Goniwe and three other activists, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkonto and Sicelo Mhlauli. They murdered them in cold blood and then burnt the bodies. “The Cradock Four", as they came to be known, were later found near the Port Elizabeth suburb of Bluewater Bay.  The film shows the oppressive climate of the sombre racist regime in the seventies and early eighties. It shows how the system broke the freedom, and the lives, of four young men. Using compelling archive materials, incisive interviews and dramatic recreations, the film reveals the ideals which led Matthew and his friends to support the liberation struggle. The assassinations signalled the beginning of the end of Apartheid. The regime declared a State of Emergency, but within five years, Mandela would walk free to lead the country to liberation. Yet, with two inquests and the Truth and Reconciliation Committee process, the killers still walk free. The film celebrates the lives of these four men, whom Nelson Mandela dubbed “the true heroes of the struggle”, and asks the question of why their killers have not been brought to book.  The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is currently building a memorial not far from the spot where these men were abducted, the memorial is intended to unearth untold stories of the past. This memorial will eventually form part of the Freedom Trail.

The filmmaker, David Forbes, will be in attendance, and will participate in an open discussion.  Prior to the panel discussion, The Cradock Four film will be screened. Other panelists will include the NMMU Vice Chancellor Prof D Swartz, the Mayor Honourable Zanoxolo Wayile, Minister of Education Blade Nzimandi and Mrs Nyameka Goniwe who will be representing the widows of The Cradock Four.

Entrance is free. For further details please contact Michele on 041-504 2508 .