Pictured: Freedom! Nelson and Winnie Mandela with George Bizos as they enter court for her trial on child kidnapping and assault charges. Former President of South Africa and longtime political prisoner, Nelson Mandela, was held by the Candela based government from 1964-1990 for sabotage. Mandela was released from his life sentence at Victor Vester Prison on 11 February 1990. (Louise Gubb/CORBIS SABA/Corbis via Getty Images)

'He played a monumental role' - Justice Minister Ronald Lamola

The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, conveys his heartfelt condolences and that of the Ministry to the Bizos family and the entire legal profession following the death of Advocate George Bizos earlier this afternoon.

In his legal career he has represented many political activists in high-profile trials. He was a member of the ANC defence team in the Rivonia trial where Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and others faced the death penalty. In addition, he acted as counsel in numerous political trials, such as that of Bram Fischer and the inquests of Steve Biko, Ahmed Timol and Neil Agget.

He also represented the families of stalwarts of the liberation struggle at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as the leader of the team to oppose applications for amnesty on behalf of the Biko, Hani, Goniwe, Calata, Mkonto, Mhlauli, Slovo and Schoon families.

Not many legal practitioners confronted the injustices faced by political activists more than Bizos and his work will continue to inspire a generation of upcoming practitioners. We are grateful for the lasting legacy he has left.

He was the recipient of many prestigious awards, such as the Order For Meritorious Service Class II Medal awarded to him by President Nelson Mandela in 1999 and the Bernard Simon Memorial Award from the International Bar Association in October 2004, the Sydney & Lady Kentridge Award and the Duma Nokwe Human Rights and Democracy Award 2004.

He played a monumental role in the drafting of South Africa’s Constitution, as a key member of the ANC’s Legal and Constitutional Committee, as advisor to the Negotiating Teams at Codesa and in shaping the Constitution and specifically the Bill of Rights.

Lamola lauded Bizos was an erudite advocate whose record in the profession was impeccable. He devoted his phenomenal intellect and legal prowess as an advocate to the marginalized. 

'He lived so well, and with boundless energy, optimism and selflessness' - The Legal Resources Centre, the Bizos family and the George Bizos SAHETI Scholarship and Bursary Programme pays tribute

The Bizos family, the Legal Resources Centre, and the George Bizos SAHETI Scholarship and Bursary Fund are sad to report the passing of Advocate George Bizos SC at 17.30 today, Wednesday 9 September. George, 92 years old, died peacefully at home of natural causes, attended to by family.

The LRC salutes George, who made an enormous contribution to the ongoing work of the Centre. From its inception in 1978 he assisted in the background while pursuing his illustrious career, then joined the LRC in 1991, using our Centre as a base in key litigation including leading the team for the government in passing the Constitution in 1996, representing families of apartheid atrocities at the TRC, leading the LRC team at the Marikana Commission, seeking justice for the Timol and other families of people murdered in detention, and of course many other lesser known cases, always seeking justice for victims of injustice.

I am gutted. ?? He said "call me George" the first time we met in the car on the way to a TV interview in 2014. My heart almost stopped when I saw him slowly make his way to the vehicle I was seated in and he has had a place in it ever since. Always grateful ?
#RIPGeorgeBizos pic.twitter.com/DmZobV5YHY

— Shaeera Kalla (@shaeera_k) September 9, 2020

George played an enormous role in mentoring many in the legal profession inside and outside the LRC, some of whom have progressed to very senior positions in the profession and the judiciary.

Outside of the LRC George had a well-established practice as an Advocate from 1954, mostly defending opponents of apartheid, and held many other appointments including serving on the Judicial Services Commission (1994 - 2009), an Acting Judge in the High Court of South Africa, and a Judge on the Appeal Court in Botswana, to name a few.

He was the recipient of numerous Honorary Doctorates, and national and international awards. Notably, he was awarded an Order for Meritorious Service Medal by President Nelson Mandela in 1999. He also played an instrumental role in the negotiations for the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners and together with Arthur Chaskalson and others, assisted in the drafting of our democratic constitution, which he then defended vigorously.

George was a lifelong campaigner against the use of the death penalty, and led the team that successfully acted for the Government arguing that the death penalty was unconstitutional.

He fought a good fight in pursuit of a Just South Africa that belongs to all who live in it. Sad to see this resolute social justice and integrity crusader go to join Madiba and his other compatriots. Heartfelt Condolences to the family, friends and colleagues #RIPGeorgeBizos pic.twitter.com/XrmfZi85Cc

— Prof Thuli Madonsela (@ThuliMadonsela3) September 9, 2020

George had a passion for education and was, with a cohort of others, instrumental in establishing SAHETI School more than 45 years ago with a vision - even during the dark years of apartheid, and sometimes in defiance of the apartheid regime - of having a Hellenic School open to all that has come to full fruition. In support of that George established the George Bizos SAHETI Scholarship and Bursary Fund many years ago.

There are many other institutions with which George has been associated such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Freedom Under Law, and Lawyers for Human Rights.

We celebrate the life of George, lived so well, and with boundless energy, optimism and selflessness. He served so many in the cause of justice. George is survived by his three sons and seven grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as they are settled.

A birthday, an honour, and a lambasting.

Some reports from our archives on George Bizos

In 2019, Bizos paid tribute to Nelson Mandela at his 92nd birthday celebration at the SAHETI school in Johannesburg. Bizos is a founding member of SAHETI. He spoke at the celebration of meeting Mandela.

Back in 2014, the Apartheid Museum honoured Bizos with his own section, the “George Bizos Gallery”. The launch of it coincided with his 90th birthday, as well as his memoir, 65 Years of Friendship, which documents his relationship with Mandela.

In 2015 Bizos expressed disbelief at the horror xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Bizos himself came to South Africa as a refugee, and said he "knows what it means to be a foreigner".

In 2016 Bizos joined the then growing chorus of those calling for former President Jacob Zuma to resign, saying Zuma “could not possibly have been ignorant” during the Nkandla debacle.

Pictured: Bizos and Ahmed Kathrada at the launch of Mandela's former assistant Zelda La Grange's book on 19 June 2014.

EFF hails Bizos' 'integrity and selflessness'

The Economic Freedom Fighters passes its condolences on the passing of anti-Apartheid struggle stalwart and human rights lawyer George Bizos. George Bizos was part of the historic Rivonia Trial, acting as the defence lawyer for those on trial and he has left an unforgettable footprint in the fight for human rights in this country.

Bizos represented a dying breed of leaders of integrity and selflessness. He spent his entire life defending human rights and using his legal expertise to fight injustice. During Apartheid, Bizos spent his time conducting inquests into deaths and human rights abuses in Apartheid. He was part of the collective that drafted the South African constitution, which today is lauded as one of the best in the world.

Even when the UDF issued a statement that no lawyer must act on behalf of Mama Winnie Mandela; regarding the allegations of abduction and assault against her, it was Bizos who disagreed and went on to consult with her, because his revolutionary conscience could not accept the injustice meted against her.

Bizos never abandoned his commitment to human rights even after the 1994 political dispensation. He was an activist part of the inquiry into the Marikana Massacre, one of the most brutal human rights abuses in democratic South Africa. His loyalty to the cause of freedom and dignity can never be doubted, and his integrity was reaffirmed when he declined judicial and political positions offered to him at the dawn of democracy.

We send our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of George Bizos. A giant tree has fallen, one that has been at the centre of our fight against injustice and inhumanity as a country. May his soul rest in perfect and eternal peace.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES | George Bizos reveals how apartheid police worked to prevent the administration of justice.

Watch our report from 2017:

Tributes are pouring in for Bizos

President Cyril Ramaphosa said: "This is a very sad moment for our country. I spoke to Bizos two months ago, even as I spoke to him, he appeared as if his health was not in good shape. The news about Bizos' passing is sad news for us as South Africans, he was one of those lawyers who contributed immensely to the attainment of our democracy, he worked closely with Mandela... As government we extend our condolences to his family and to the rest of South Africa, because his name was well known. He had an incisive legal mind and was one of the architects of our Constituiton. He will sorely be missed and we tip our hats in honour of the contribution he made to democracy; we will forever remember his contribution."


 
Retired Constitutional Court Justice Johann Kriegler told News24 that the country had lost a "giant and larger than life" advocate. "Nobody who ever knew George Bizos wasn’t profoundly moved in some way or another by this larger than life guy. I knew him for close to 70 years. George was, apart from his tremendous influence as an advocate in the years of oppression when he acted for many of the oppressed and the targeted victims of the system, a very, very competent advocate in his own right in every respect. I knew him as a colleague in Freedom Under Law, where we fought abuses against the administration of justice in the current regime. I can say without any hesitation, George was a great, great South African. I think it actually starts back in Greece, the community from which he came, which was already in those days...rebelling against the government. When George came to South Africa, he was virtually an orphan because his father ran into difficulties pretty soon. George proved himself capable of adapting. He had it very tough. He managed, notwithstanding all the disadvantages be it social, economic, in language and in every respect culturally, and he made his mark already. Those who were at Wits University in the early 1950s remember very well this rather portly, dark haired fellow speaking with a foreign accent pitching up at any student protest saying ‘Mr Chairman, fellow students!’ From those days George carried on at the Johannesburg Bar, at the Legal Resource Centre, at Freedom Under Law, he played a tremendous role in the development of human rights and Constitutionalism in South Africa. He represented the government at the time of the certification of the Constitution, he led the team, and his contribution was enormous."

Former presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj, who along with four others was represented by Bizos in the Little Rivonia Trial of 1964, said: George was not just a lawyer, he was not just an activist for human rights. I believe that George was combatant for freedom and he shaped the role of lawyers in the face of an unjust system to be combatant, to undermine and overthrow that system.When it came to the time of transition and negotiations, George served as an advisor to the ANC teams and he remained throughout his life, firmly on the side of justice and equality for all. He was proud of his heritage as a Greek. He never failed to draw from the experience and the wisdom of Greek freedom fighters, but he was above all a South African due to the cause of human justice and equality.To George’s family, be strong, take pride – join us in celebrating a life of service to the South African people. A life of service to the cause of human freedom and justice.

The Ahmed Kathrada foundation tweeted it was "saddened by the news that veteran human rights lawyer George Bizos has passed away. Lala ngoxolo."

The Saheti School, where Bizos was the founding chairperson, said it was a "privileged school to have beneffitted from the life of a man who gave his time and energy to shaping the school. "As a community we have walked alongside a man who has become an icon of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa."

Howard Varney, a South African barrister practicing at the Johannesburg Bar, said: "I was privileged to have worked with George at the Legal Resources Centre and we collaborated again at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry. Even well into his 80s the fire in his belly was undiminished. He loved nothing more than to hold corrupt and brutal officials to account. George lived long enough to see some justice done in the Ahmed Timol case in 2017. Indeed, George attended court every day for 6 weeks offering advice and counsel to me and my team. I so much wanted George to finally witness justice in the Neil Aggett case, which commenced earlier this year with the reopening of the inquest. Sadly, the pandemic intervened and that case had to be postponed. I visited George in his home earlier this year, with Stephen Aggett (Neil’s nephew), and promised him that we would not rest until justice was done in the Aggett case, the Cradock Four, Pebco 3 and COSAS 4 murders and many other cases.  We will carry on this fight in his name. Hamba Kahle George.

Advocate Geoff Budlender SC said: George represented the famous and the humble alike. His clients weren’t only the Nelson Mandelas, his clients were the humblest of people. Some of the work he was proudest of and most liked speaking of, was his work in the 1950s in the Northern Transvaal, representing women who were resisting and fighting the passbook laws. That to him was as important as the famous show trials. He believed that human rights were for everybody, and he cared about people. If there’s an epitaph that’s appropriate, it’s that he was a man who cared about justice and who cared about people, those were his passion. He was a man of great generosity and warmth, and he was liked by many. I think the most important thing that he wanted us to understand is that human rights matter, and people matter – and that they should be at the centre of our professional work.

Journalist Justice Malala described Bizos as "a human being [who was] the way God wanted us to be: large of heart, open of mind, great in spirit. Humane, freedom fighter, lover of people. What a week: Achmat Dangor, George Bizos. Our great ones are leaving it up to us. We were blessed to have them. Death be not proud."

Anti-apartheid human rights lawyer George Bizos dies

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the family of distinguished human rights advocate George Bizos following reports of his passing on Wednesday afternoon.

Bizos died at the age of 92, the Nelson Mandela Foundation confirmed to News24.

The foundation's spokesperson Luzuko Koti said Bizos died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday afternoon.

Bizos represented Nelson Mandela in both the Treason and Rivonia trials. He had also had a hand in drawing up the country's Constitution.