They became known as the Cradock Four: Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli. On the 27th of June 1985, these four men left the small Eastern Cape town of Cradock for a meeting of the United Democratic Front in Port Elizabeth. A few days later, their mutilated and charred bodies were found in the bush outside the city. Convicted Vlakplaas commander Colonel Eugene de Kock recalled that Goniwe's death was "the beginning of the end of apartheid". "Who killed Matthew Goniwe?" was a constant refrain for 13 years until February 1998, when a group of former security policemen finally stepped forward and said: "We killed the Cradock Four."

Credits: Zola Ntutu, Darren Taylor, Thapelo Mokushane, Angie Kapelianis, Sally Burdett and Danny Booysen.

Transcript: http://www.sabctruth.co.za/sabctruth/worldsright.htm#cant

From the series South Africa's Human Spirit. Available wherever you find your podcasts.

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