IN MEMORIAM
In Memoriam Wits University fondly remembers those who have passed away [1927-2020]
George Bizos One of South Africa’s most esteemed human rights activists and Wits alumnus Advocate George Bizos (BA 1951, LLB 1954, LLD honoris causa 1999), the oldest child of Greek refugees, was born on 14 November 1927 and came to South Africa at the age of 13 via Egypt during World War II. Accompanied by his father, Antonios, he stepped onto the dock of Durban Harbour speaking no English and with little money. The pair found their way to Johannesburg, with Bizos’s father taking small jobs while he worked in a café, rather than attending school. Through a chance intervention from a teacher and Wits alumna Cecilia (Feinstein) Smulowitz he was able to catch up his studies and started reading for his first degree at Wits in 1948. At Wits, Bizos served three terms on the Student Representative Council. His courage to speak out against discrimination against black students attracted the wrath of the apartheid government, who would deny him citizenship – and a passport – for more than 30 years. But he also forged life-long friendships with the likes of Nelson Mandela (LLD honoris causa 1991), Arthur Chaskalson (BCom 1952, LLB 1954, LLD hororis causa 1990) and Duma Nokwe (LLB 1955). Bizos graduated in 1954 and remained a committed and involved alumnus. “I was radicalised at Wits, for lack of a better word,” he said. Within weeks of being admitted to the bar as an advocate Bizos was involved in political trials. His track record is long and distinguished: as junior member of the defence team in the 1963 Rivonia Trial; the Bram Fischer Trial in 1965; the first Terrorism Trial in 1967; as part of the defence team in the Delmas Treason Trial which lasted from 1985 to 1989; leading the inquests into the deaths of Steve Biko and Neil Aggett; he was counsel for Winnie Mandela and defended Albertina Sisulu and Barbara Hogan; representing the Biko, Hani, Goniwe, Calata, Mkhonto, Mhlauli, Slovo and Schoon families during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; representing the Human Rights Commission and families of slain mineworkers at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry in 2014. Bizos was the founder member of the National Council for Human Rights in 1979 and he worked on several of South Africa’s most defining documents including the Bill of Rights 78 W I T S R E V I E W
and the Constitution. Mandela appointed him to the Judicial Service Commission, on which he served for 15 years. Well into his 80s, Bizos continued to work in the Constitutional Litigation Unit of the Legal Resources Centre. Despite the intensity of his workload, Bizos cultivated a rich circle of friendships and was a devoted family man. He married his wife Rita Daflos (known as Arethe) in 1954 and had three sons, Kimon (BSc 1979, MBBCh 1983), Damon (MBBCh 1983, MMed 1997) and Alexi (BSc Eng 1983) – and seven grandchildren. Bizos was a keen gardener, and lovingly tended the vegetable garden his mother, Anastasia, who lived to 98, planted. In the documentary film Here Be Dragons (2010) he said: “As you know, I don’t cross-examine from notes. As spontaneous as some of my questions might sound, they’ve actually been tried out on the plants – very early in the morning, sometimes in my mind, but sometimes they hear me speak about it.” The indebtedness he felt towards Smulowitz for her earlier contribution to his education led to his central role in establishing the SAHETI School more than 45 years ago as well as the George Bizos SAHETI Scholarship and Bursary fund. “I quote Aristotle ‘that education is a jewel at the time of prosperity, and a refuge during difficult times’. I think we should follow Aristotle,” he said. Bizos died peacefully in his home on 9 September. “He lived so well, and with boundless energy, optimism and selflessness,” read the statement from his family. Sources: Wits, M&G and Sunday Times archives, Odyssey to Freedom (2007)
