Remembering George Bizos Drum Social Histories / Baileys African History Archive Africa Media Online George Bizos – the Hercules of his time by Mahomed Navsa, Judge of Appeal

first met George Bizos in 1982 at Innes IChambers, when I was Denis Kuny’s pupil. They were working on the Aggett inquest. When I first met George, I was immediately struck by his passion for justice, his commitment to human rights and his love of his Hellenic heritage. He loved discussing the great Greek George Bizos with Sydney Kentridge outside the Old Synagogue in Pretoria, August 1970 philosophers, quoting them at length. He was steeped in Greek mythology. George was proud to be South African George was an irresistible force in that memories. George acknowledged Arthur’s and committed to the struggle against inquest and was intent on showing the genius and clearly adored Arthur and ’s most egregious ills. public the horrors of the apartheid State. trusted his judgment. I recall the first and subsequent days We felt sorry for Judge Zietsman, a decent Over the decades, close to half a cen- of the Aggett inquest. George was a man, who was horrified at what was being tury, that I got to know and appreciate commanding court presence who would presented by George in a not understated George Bizos, I enjoyed his sense of hu- not be denied. He had a sense of occasion manner. mour and mischief and his generosity. At and was unstoppable in court. He imposed Our legal team also regularly every end of year LRC function he treated himself on proceedings and dictated what ­witnessed the generous and warm side staff to his lamb on the spit, Greek style, the newspaper headlines would say. His of George’s nature. He treated us twice a prepared at Sydney Kentridge’s house in forensic skills were exceptional. week, a break from the Elizabeth Hotel’s Houghton. George loved food and would George and I and Clive Plasket, now buffet, to dinner at Greek restaurants in give lessons to all willing to listen, on how Judge of Appeal, worked together for , which he commandeered. to prepare calamari and other dishes. some 14 months on what became known He regaled us with tales of prior court George Bizos was a great teacher. He as the Goniwe inquest – the inquest into ­battles and with personalities at the Bar was a wonderfully generous man. He the death of the Cradock 4; Matthew and his battles with authorities. was a giant amongst giants. In a world in Goniwe, , I worked with him on a number of which the word “hero” is overused it does and . It was conducted cases over the years. It was not an easy not even begin to describe him. in Port Elizabeth with Justice Neville task being his junior. It was often a roller- Even when he took on an unpopular Zietsman presiding. It was really the first coaster ride. He was a genius cross-exam- case, which some his friends criticised him time that ’s public at large got iner but was also unpredictable. I think for, he was unrepentant, refusing to apolo- a better and more detailed view of how he often surprised himself with new ideas gise for defending his client to the hilt. insidious and how far the terrible tentacles that popped into his head, sending the The country will not be the same of the apartheid security state extended. rest of his legal team scurrying to keep up. without him. The legal world is the poorer George was the leading light in show- His real strength in court was that he un- without him. There will be less colour in ing how assassination orders were issued derstood better than most how the world our lives. Court corridors will be less lively. by securocrats with calculated ruthless- worked and what drove people to act as But I know he is smiling down on us, ness, and how the security establishment they did. willing us to be better and to overcome the controlled so many aspects of our daily I also witnessed over the years the many challenges we face. lives without always being visible. unbreakable and unique friendship he George’s contribution to the develop- George and I and Nicolette Moodie, shared with Arthur Chaskalson. Tempera- ment of a human rights culture in our a fellow at the Legal Resources Centre, mentally they were like chalk and cheese, country is immeasurable. He truly lived a travelled to Port Elizabeth every Sunday the one given to detail and precision, the good life. and we flew back to Johannesburg every other given to flair and drama. You do I owe George more than I could ever Friday over the many months that the not have to guess who was which. They repay, as do many of my generation. I will inquest endured. spoke almost daily and shared secrets and miss him dearly. Go well, George!!

26 Advocate December 2020