In a significant development on the sidelines of the Cradock Four inquest, the South African National Defence Force has declined to explain its decision to withhold legal representation for Christoffel “Joffel” van der Westhuizen — the former senior military intelligence officer accused of ordering the assassination of the anti-apartheid activists.
Van der Westhuizen has been named by the state as the individual who allegedly gave the command that led to the brutal 1985 killings of Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto, and Sicelo Mhlauli — an event that became one of apartheid’s most notorious political crimes.
While the inquest has been reopened to establish accountability for the deaths, the Defence Force’s refusal to support Van der Westhuizen’s legal defence raises questions about institutional responsibility and the state’s stance on former apartheid-era operatives. Officials have offered no comment on the reasoning behind the move, fuelling speculation about internal divisions and the broader implications for justice and reconciliation processes.
The inquest continues amid growing public interest and calls for full disclosure and accountability for apartheid-era crimes.
