South Africans have continued to react with shock at the passing of human rights lawyer and anti-apartheid activist George Bizos
THE BIZOS family, the Legal Resources Centre, and the George Bizos SAHETI Scholarship and Bursary Fund have confirmed the passing of Advocate George Bizos SC at 5.30pm on Wednesday.
Bizos, 92 years old, died peacefully at home of natural causes, attended to by family.
South Africans have continued to react with shock at the passing of the human rights lawyer and anti-apartheid activist.
In a tweet, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation chief executive Nishan Bolton said he was immensely saddened by Bizo’s passing describing him as a “towering giant in so many faces of our liberation struggle”.
Bizo’s close friend Hillary Hamburger whose husband Denis Kuny worked with Bizos on all political trials said: “I remember him as a great lawyer. I’ve known him for about 50 years as he worked with Denis. We were very closely knit with his family in the early days. We used to spend time together. George was a great cook. Great lawyer and great freedom fighter.”
Hamburger maintained that Bizos’ legacy and contribution to a new and better South Africa should be celebrated by all.
Bizos is renowned for being part of the lawyers who defended Rivonia trialist Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki and Walter Sisulu between 1962 to 1964.
He also represented the families of the late former SACP leader Chris Hani and Black Consciousness movement leader and anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko at the Truth and Reconciliation hearings in the 90s.
With his gravelly voice and methodical method of questioning, Bizos won the admiration from the forces opposing state suppression and racist rule, and the ire of the apartheid-era security establishment for the way he laid bare the iniquities of dictatorial rule and the atrocities committed under the pretext of maintaining law and order.
Tributes continue to pour in for the late attorney.
