Citing his long service and his many responsibilities outside the ANC in 1949, he did not seek to continue to serve either as Cape president or as secretary general.

In June he was informed that he had been “listed” which meant that he could not be quoted. On 27 June 1985, Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkonto and Sicelo Mhlauli, left for Port Elizabeth at about 10am. Born: 5 November 1956 – Died: 27 June 1985. In his capacity as secretary-general, Calata was signatory of the 1949 Programme of Action, but, like Xuma, found the proposal of the Youth League extreme. In June he was informed that he had been “listed” which meant that he could not be quoted. Calata, a journalist for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), directly called in his book for this kind of a national commitment to pursue apartheid-era prosecutions. He became one of the SABC 8 in 2016 when he challenged Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s reign of censorship at the public broadcaster. He played a significant role in synods and missionary conferences in the Diocese of Grahamstown and also in provincial organizations. Shortly after his arrest, during a raid on his home, the police found no papers but noticed two historic photographs of ANC leaders on his wall. Despite writing the letter anonymously, the police traced it and identified him as the author of the letter. In 1943 he was nominated for the Bishopric of the Transkei, but pressure from white clergy prevented his election. Our offices are for administrative purposes only, no visitors will be accepted without an appointment.

Led the team to oppose applications for amnesty by the murderers of Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto, Sicelo Mhlauli and Ruth First. Born: 22 July 1895, Debe Nek, King Williamstown, In summary: Former Secretary-General of the ANC (1936-1949), political activist and Anglican clergyman. She was often  threatened with eviction from their home. After the funeral the security continued to harass Calata’s wife. After Calata and his comrades  disappeared news broke out that his body and that of Goniwe had been found  stabbed and burnt, near Bluewater Bay. He passed away on 16 June 1983 in Cradock. He played a significant role in synods and missionary conferences in the Diocese of Grahamstown and also in provincial organisations. After the funeral the security continued to harass Calata’s wife. A monument commemorating the lives of three generations of Cradock activists, who died during the struggle, including the Cradock Four, was unveiled by then-Deputy President Jacob Zuma and Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile. At the end of the inquest on 22 February 1989, the Magistrate found that the four had been killed by “unknown persons” and that “no-one was to blame”. NPC NO# 2020/088680/08. In January 1984 students commenced a school boycott after discovering the expulsion of Goniwe by the Department of Education and Training (DET). Fort’s grandfather, the Reverend Canon James Arthur Calata, was the Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1936 to 1949.

In October 1980, he was detained again in Dimbaza for three weeks as a result of his political views. Religion and politics were inseparable concerns in Calata's life for he believed that Christianity would never develop genuine roots in South Africa until African grievances were dealt with and democracy prevailed.He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1930 and in the same year was elected provincial president for the Cape, an office he held until 1949. The debate about rights and obligations when cars are sold voetstoots can be confusing. Teacher, community leader, political activist and member of the UDF. Alan Boesak. Calata, Goniwe, Mhlauli and Mkhonto were buried in Lingelihle, Cradock on 20 July 1985. Menu.

In August 1984 the community launched a boycott of white owned shops for a week in protest against the detention of their leaders. Mhlauli and Mkhonto’s bodies were also found in the scrub in the same area but far apart from each other. He was monitored, followed by vehicles and his home was visited by the head of the Cradock Security Police, Major Eric Winter. In different trenches, but complementing each other in a remarkable journey of six decades, of loyal friendship and brotherhood, walking hand in hand.”. His father James Calata was a Presbyterian and his mother Eliza, an Anglican. Calata was detained at a secret location and his wife Nomonde fruitlessly sought to locate him the following day. He and Calata became friends due to their shared political views. Fort Calata and his wife Nomonde met in 1974 in Cradock. It proceeded to  arrest  scores of activists returning from the funeral. On 12 April 1984 Nomonde who worked at the Provincial Hospital in Cradock was summarily dismissed by the Matron and the Superintendent. During the same year, he was appointed to the Council of the Anglican College of the Federal Theological Seminary. On 19 March 1984, former President FW de Klerk attended a State Security Council (SSC) meeting where former Finance Minister Barend du Plessis proposed the “removal” of Goniwe and Calata. pic.twitter.com/r3xTKZCLeM, Mandela’s widow, Graça Machel, penned a heartfelt message, saying Bizos is “the last of Madiba’s closest friends to depart.”, “Madiba and George [were] more than special friends, they were two souls with [an] uncompromising zest for justice. Potgieter, D.J.et al. The school boycott, boycott of white owned shops and the resignation of the council sparked a raging debate within the state security apparatus and between the latter and DET on whether to reinstate Calata and Goniwe or not ensued. In January 1984 students commenced a school boycott after discovering the expulsion of Goniwe by the Department of Education and Training (DET).

Just hours after the funeral, the government declared a partial State of Emergency in the Eastern Cape and then Transvaal. The second inquest began on 29 March 1993 and ran for 18 months in terms of the Inquests Amendment.