George Bizos is a Greek-South African human rights lawyer best known for representing Nelson Mandela during the Rivonia Trial.
George Bizos was born on 14 November 1927 in Vasilitsi, a small town on the Messenia peninsula of the Peloponnese. George Bizos’s father, Antonios “Antoni” Bizos, was the mayor of Vasilitsi.
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In May 1941 and at the age of 14, George Bizos, his father and seven New Zealand army soldiers escaped the German-occupied Greek mainland for Crete. En route to Crete, they attracted the attention of of a ship which turned out to be the British destroyer, HMS Kimberly and after the battle of Crete, the HMS Kimberly dropped George Bizos and his father, Antonios Bizos off in Alexandria, Egypt.
George Bizos was then sent to Durban, South Africa. From Durban, George Bizos went by train to Johannesburg where he was helped by the local Greeks to integrate into their community.
In 1949, George Bizos gained admission to the University of the Witwatersrand where he met Nelson Mandela. George Bizos undertook a 3-year Bachelor of Arts degree and followed it with a three-year LLB Law Degree.
In 1954, George Bizos was called to the Johannesburg Bar. From 1963 to 1964, George Bizos was part of the team that defended Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki and Walter Sisulu. Although George Bizos is credited with Nelson Mandela’s famous speech during the trial, George rather said that his main contribution was to advise the use of the words “if needs be” prior to Mandela saying that “he was prepared to die”. George Bizos believes that the use of “if needs be” was crucial in preventing the death penalty, by making it seem to the jury that Nelson Mandela was not seeking martyrdom.
George Bizos was also the counsel for the accused in at least 26 other prominent anti-apartheid trials and inquests.
In 1969, George Bizos acted for the defence of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and 21 others on charges of contravening the Suppression of Communism Act and Unlawful Organisations Act.
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In 1975, George Bizos together with Dennis Kuny and Arthur Chaskalson also represented the NUSAS Five who were charged with furthering the aims of the African National Congress and communism.
In 1978, George Bizos became a Senior Member of the Johannesburg Bar. George Bizos was a Founding Father of the National Council of Lawyers for Human Rights, which was founded in 1979.
George Bizos also served as a judge on Botswana’s Court of Appeal from 1985 to 1993. In 1990, George Bizos became a member of the African National Congress (ANC) Legal and Constitutional Committee.
George Bizos was also involved in the drafting of legislation, and particularly the Truth and Reconciliation Bill and amendments to the Criminal Procedures Act, to bring it into line with Chapter 3 of the constitution, guaranteeing fundamental human rights to all citizens of South Africa.
In 1994, George Bizos was appointed to the Judicial Services Commission by President Nelson Mandela.
In 2005, George Bizos served as a legal advisor to President Nelson Mandela.
George Bizos Net Worth
George Bezos was s very simple man who never liked to attract public attention through the display of wealth.
However, despite his simplicity, George Bezos is believed to have had a net worth of a little under $1 million.
George Bizos Wife
George Bizos was married to Arethe Daflos. However, Arethe Daflos died in 2017.
George Bizos Children
George Bizos and Arethe Daflos’s children are; Alexi, Damon and Kimon Bizos.
George Bizos Funeral
George Bizos died at the age of 92 on September 9 2020 and his funeral service was held at the Greek Orthodox Church in Johannesburg, South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa gave a televised national address in honor of George Bizos.
George Bizos was buried at the Westpark Cemetery in Randburg.
Source: abtc.ng