Editing George Bizos

{{Short description|Greek-South African lawyer (1927–2020)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = George Bizos
| image         = George Bizos 1 (cropped).jpg
| caption       = Bizos in 2014
| birth_name    = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1927|11|14|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite web |title=George Bizos, Anti-Apartheid Lawyer Who Defended Mandela, Dies at 92 (Published 2020) |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=9 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620142434/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/world/africa/george-bizos-dead.html |archive-date=2023-06-20 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/world/africa/george-bizos-dead.html |last1=Cowell |first1=Alan }}</ref>
| birth_place   = Vasilitsi, [[Messenia]], [[Second Hellenic Republic]]
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2020|9|9|1927|11|15|df=yes}}
| death_place   = [[Johannesburg]], [[South Africa]]
| resting_place =
| spouse        = {{marriage|Arethe Daflos|1948|2017|end=died}}
| partner        = 
| children       = 3
| nationality    = [[Greece|Greek]]<br>[[South African people|South African]]
| other_names    = 
| education      = 
| alma_mater     = [[University of the Witwatersrand]]
| occupation     = [[Human rights lawyer]]
| years_active   = 
| known_for      = 
| notable_works  = 
}}

'''George Bizos''' ({{langx|el|Γιώργος Μπίζος}};<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=FjoMAQAAMAAJ ''Ατλας της Ελληνικης διασπορας'', Volume 2], Alexandros, 2001, p. 428.</ref> 14 November 1927{{spnd}}9 September 2020) was a Greek-South African [[human rights lawyer]] who campaigned against [[apartheid]] in [[South Africa]]. He was noted for representing [[Nelson Mandela]] during the [[Rivonia Trial]]. He instructed Mandela to add the qualification "if needs be" to his [[I Am Prepared to Die|trial address]], which is credited with sparing him from a sentence of death. Bizos also represented the families of [[Internal resistance to apartheid|anti-apartheid]] activists killed by the government, throughout the hearings of the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]]. He also represented victims of the [[Marikana massacre]].

== Early life ==

Bizos was the son of Antonios "Antoni" Bizos, the mayor of the small village of Vasilitsi, south of [[Koroni]] and [[Kalamata]] on the [[Messenia]] peninsula of the [[Peloponnese]], [[Second Hellenic Republic|Greece]].<ref name="Isaacs">{{Cite web|last=Isaacs|first=Doron|date=14 November 2017|title=How two teachers helped George Bizos become a lawyer|url=https://www.groundup.org.za/article/how-two-teachers-helped-george-bizos-become-lawyer/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224173958/https://www.groundup.org.za/article/how-two-teachers-helped-george-bizos-become-lawyer/|archive-date=24 February 2019|access-date=24 February 2019|website=GroundUp News|language=en}}</ref> He was born on 14 November 1927, although this was erroneously recorded on his South African identity documents as 1928, owing to his father's declaration to the authorities upon arrival in Egypt.<ref>{{cite book|title=65 Years of Friendship|first=George|last=Bizos|publisher=Penguin Random House South Africa|date=2017|isbn=9781415208861|access-date=30 September 2019|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IghbDwAAQBAJ&q=george+bizos+15+november+1927&pg=PT299|archive-date=10 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910071508/https://books.google.com/books?id=IghbDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT299&lpg=PT299&dq=george+bizos+15+november+1927#v|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 1941 at the age of thirteen, Bizos and his father helped seven [[New Zealand Army]] soldiers (Don Gladding, Mick Karup, Peter Martin, John Lewis and three others) who were hiding in the hills to escape the [[Axis occupation of Greece|German-occupied Greek mainland]] for [[Crete]]. The 9 set out to sea at night, with only a cheap compass and a map torn from an atlas, intending to escape to Crete. On the second day at sea, rough winds took the sail out of control and tore through its canvas. The men had to take turns to row, right through the night, until they managed to repair the sail. On the third day, they spotted a ship in the distance. They managed to attract the attention of the crew of what turned out to be the British destroyer, [[HMS Kimberley|HMS ''Kimberley'']], on its way to the [[Battle of Crete]]. After the battle, the ''Kimberley'' dropped him and his father off at [[Alexandria]], Egypt.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Media Challenge: Who and Where Are the Seven?| work = International Bar Association| date = 22 October 2004| access-date = 14 October 2014| url = http://www.ibanet.org/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleUid=1F5E4C74-75E2-43BA-BA36-8BAAE0E26B0D| archive-date = 11 September 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911101718/http://www.ibanet.org/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleUid=1F5E4C74-75E2-43BA-BA36-8BAAE0E26B0D| url-status = live}}</ref>

As a refugee, Bizos was sent to the [[Union of South Africa]] and landed in [[Durban]].<ref name=birthdaytea>{{cite news|newspaper=Mail & Guardian|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-11-16-birthday-tea-with-bizos|title=Birthday tea with Bizos|first=Sello S.|last=Alcock|date=16 November 2008|access-date=30 September 2019|archive-date=30 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930040427/https://mg.co.za/article/2008-11-16-birthday-tea-with-bizos|url-status=live}}</ref> From there he went by train to [[Johannesburg]], disembarking at the [[Braamfontein]] railway station.<ref name=memoir>{{cite web|url=http://psimg.jstor.org/fsi/img/pdf/t0/10.5555/al.sff.document.gerhart0018_final.pdf|title=Memoirs of George Bizos|publisher=Aluka|first=George|last=Bizos|others=The memoirs of George Bizos, with emphasis on his legal career, as related to Thomas Karis and Gail Gerhart in New York, October 1989|date=October 1989|access-date=30 September 2019|archive-date=30 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930034047/http://psimg.jstor.org/fsi/img/pdf/t0/10.5555/al.sff.document.gerhart0018_final.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time, the [[Ossewabrandwag]], an [[Afrikaner]] group with [[Nazism|Nazi]] sympathies, were demonstrating against the arrival of refugees. The Ossewabrandwag blamed [[Jan Smuts]] for bringing the ''vuilgoed'' (rubbish) of Europe to South Africa. The local [[Greeks in South Africa|Greek community]] helped integrate him into society.<ref name=patriarch>{{cite news|newspaper=Mail & Guardian|url=https://mg.co.za/article/1997-09-26-greek-patriarch-of-the-struggle|title=Greek patriarch of the struggle|first=Angella|last=Johnson|date=26 September 1997|access-date=30 September 2019|archive-date=30 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930034043/https://mg.co.za/article/1997-09-26-greek-patriarch-of-the-struggle|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bizos did not go to school for his first two years in the country as he spoke neither English nor [[Afrikaans]].<ref name=patriarch/> He gained entry to the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] in 1949, where he met [[Nelson Mandela]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/prominent-human-rights-lawyer-george-bizos-dies-200910032905795.html |title='Legendary': Prominent human rights lawyer George Bizos dies |last=Swart |first=Mia |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |date=10 September 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200910150214/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/prominent-human-rights-lawyer-george-bizos-dies-200910032905795.html |archive-date=10 September 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> and undertook a 3-year [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree, followed by a three-year [[LLB|LLB law degree]]. It was during this time that he first became politically active, joining the [[students' representative council]] under the leadership of [[Harold Wolpe]].<ref name=memoir/>

== Legal career ==
===Apartheid era===
 
Bizos joined the [[Bar association|Bar]] in [[Johannesburg]] in 1954.<ref name=memoir/> During the 1950s and 1960s he was counsel to a wide range of well-known people including [[Trevor Huddleston]] of [[Sophiatown]].<ref name=memoir/>

At the [[Rivonia Trial]] from 1963 to 1964, Bizos was part of the team that defended [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Govan Mbeki]] and [[Walter Sisulu]]. The accused were sentenced to life imprisonment, but spared the death penalty. Although it is sometimes said that he claims to have drafted Mandela's famous speech spoken at the trial, he says that his main contribution was to advise the use of the words "''if needs be''" before Mandela said that he was prepared to die. Bizos believed that this may have contributed to the avoidance of the death penalty, by having Mandela not appear to seek martyrdom.<ref name=birthdaytea/> This trial saw the arrival of a group of human rights lawyers – [[Joel Joffe]], [[Harry Schwarz]], [[Arthur Chaskalson]] and [[Harold Hanson (lawyer)|Harold Hanson]].<ref name=90thbedford>{{cite news|url=https://bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za/322506/friends-family-celebrate-bizos-90th/|publisher=Befordview and Edendale News|title=Friends, family celebrate Bizos' 90th|date=6 December 2019|access-date=30 September 2019|archive-date=30 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930032127/https://bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za/322506/friends-family-celebrate-bizos-90th/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bizos was council for the accused in at least 26 other prominent anti-apartheid trials and inquests. In 1969 he acted for the defence of [[Winnie Madikizela-Mandela]] and 21 others on charges of contravening the Suppression of Communism Act and Unlawful Organisations Act.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=de Villiers|first=James|date=10 September 2020|title=EXPLAINER: The Treason Trial, Rivonia, Madikizela-Mandela: This is why George Bizos was the premier anti-apartheid lawyer|work=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/analysis/explainer-the-treason-trial-rivonia-madikizela-mandela-this-is-why-george-bizos-was-the-premier-anti-apartheid-lawyer-20200909|access-date=28 November 2020}}</ref> Together with [[Arthur Chaskalson]] and Dennis Kuny, he also represented the [[National Union of South African Students|NUSAS]] Five who were charged with furthering the aims of the African National Congress and communism in 1975.<ref name=":0" />

Bizos subsequently became a senior member of the Johannesburg Bar in 1978. He was a member of the National Council of Lawyers for Human Rights, which he helped found in 1979. He was senior counsel at the [[Legal Resources Centre]] in Johannesburg in the Constitutional Litigation Unit. He also served as a judge on [[Botswana]]'s Court of Appeal from 1985 to 1993.<ref name=SAH/>

===Post-apartheid===
Bizos became a member of the [[African National Congress]]' (ANC) Legal and Constitutional Committee in 1990,<ref name=SAH/> and at [[Convention for a Democratic South Africa]] (CODESA) he served as advisor to the negotiating teams and participated in drawing up the Interim Constitution. He was 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.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YRPZDEfWI2UC&pg=PA175|title=The Routledge Companion to Museum Ethics: Redefining Ethics for the Twenty-First Century Museum|publisher=Routledge|date=23 May 2012|editor-last=Marstine|editor-first=Janet|page=175|isbn=9781136715266|access-date=10 September 2020|archive-date=10 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910071508/https://books.google.ca/books?id=YRPZDEfWI2UC&pg=PA175|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NYT obit">{{cite news|title=George Bizos, Anti-Apartheid Lawyer Who Defended Mandela, Dies at 92|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/world/africa/george-bizos-dead.html|first=Alan|last=Cowell|date=9 September 2020|access-date=9 September 2020|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=9 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909194602/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/world/africa/george-bizos-dead.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bizos was retained as counsel at various inquests into the deaths of people in detention.<ref name=memoir/> During the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]] hearings, he was the leader of the team that opposed applications for amnesty on behalf of the Biko, Hani,<ref name="patriarch" /> Goniwe, Calata, Mkonto, Mhlauli, Slovo and Schoon families.<ref name=Austin>{{cite news|title=Bizos' fight against apartheid|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/andrew-austin/news/article.cfm?a_id=54&objectid=3604701|first=Andrew|last=Austin|date=7 November 2004|access-date=9 September 2020|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|archive-date=10 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910071509/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/andrew-austin/news/article.cfm?a_id=54&objectid=3604701|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bizos was appointed by President Mandela to the Judicial Services Commission in 1994.<ref name=SAH/> It was responsible for recommending candidates for appointment as judges, as well as proposing post-apartheid reforms to the judicial system. Bizos was the leader of the team for the South African Government to argue that the death penalty was unconstitutional,<ref>{{cite news|title=Renowned human rights lawyer George Bizos has died|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-09-09-breaking-renowned-human-rights-lawyer-george-bizos-has-died/|first=Jeff|last=Wicks|date=9 September 2020|access-date=9 September 2020|newspaper=The Times|location=Johannesburg, South Africa|archive-date=10 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910013008/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-09-09-breaking-renowned-human-rights-lawyer-george-bizos-has-died/|url-status=live}}</ref> and counsel for the National Assembly in the Certification of the Constitution by the Constitutional Court.<ref name="SAHO bio">{{cite web|title=George Bizos|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/george-bizos|access-date=9 September 2020|publisher=South African History Online|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729031652/https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/george-bizos|url-status=live}}</ref> He later served as a legal advisor to Mandela in 2005, during a bitter legal dispute with the latter's former lawyer, [[Ismail Ayob]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/specialreports.aspx?ID=BD4A70054|date= 18 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221154817/http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/specialreports.aspx?ID=BD4A70054|archive-date=21 December 2008|publisher=Business Day|title=Bizos behind vicious campaign to discredit, defame me — Ayob|first=Ernest |last=Mabuza}}</ref><ref name="web._SABC">{{Cite web
| title = Mandela can still look after his own affairs : Bizos| work = SABCnews| date = 11 April 2005| access-date = 14 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050411113120/http://www.sabcnews.co.za/south_africa/general/0,2172,101840,00.html|archive-date=11 April 2005| url = http://www.sabcnews.co.za/south_africa/general/0,2172,101840,00.html}}</ref><ref name="web._Poor">{{Cite web |title        = Poor Ismail Ayob |first        = Fikile-Notsikelelo |last         = Moya |work         = Mail & Guardian Online |date         = 5 August 2005 |access-date   = 14 October 2014 |url          = http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=247331&area=/insight/insight__comment_and_analysis/ |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060428122252/http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=247331&area=%2Finsight%2Finsight__comment_and_analysis%2F |archive-date = 28 April 2006 |url-status      = dead |df           = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ummah.net/forum/showthread.php?t=60167 |title=Friday Khutbar – Ummah.com – Muslim Forum<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=11 February 2007 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927021039/http://www.ummah.net/forum/showthread.php?t=60167 |url-status=live }}</ref> He also represented the Chinese Association of South Africa in a case that ended in 2008 in which [[Chinese South Africans]] were granted 'previously disadvantaged' status, thus qualifying them for [[Black Economic Empowerment]] benefits.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinese qualify for BEE|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Chinese-qualify-for-BEE-20080618|website=News24|access-date=15 December 2015|date=18 June 2008|archive-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109091051/http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Chinese-qualify-for-BEE-20080618|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Film about Rivonia===
In 2017 Bizos appeared along with surviving defendants at the Rivonia Trial, [[Denis Goldberg]], [[Andrew Mlangeni]] and [[Ahmed Kathrada]], along with fellow defence lawyers [[Joel Joffe]] and [[Denis Kuny]], in a documentary film entitled ''Life is Wonderful'', directed by Sir [[Nicholas Stadlen]],<ref>{{vimeo|284713545|Life is Wonderful Q&A}}</ref> which tells the story of the trial. The title reflects Goldberg's words to his mother at the end of the trial on hearing that he and his comrades had been spared the death sentence.<ref>{{YouTube|ofNIupHJooA|Life is Wonderful trailer}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/22/men-rivonia-trial-nelson-mandela-1964|title=Unsung heroes: the men who stood trial with Mandela|first=Nick (Nicholas)|last=Stadlen|date=22 July 2018|access-date=23 April 2019|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423092115/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/22/men-rivonia-trial-nelson-mandela-1964|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/life/arts-and-entertainment/2018-06-13-apartheid-history-overlooked-rivonia-triallists-feted-in-life-is-wonderful/|title=Apartheid history: Overlooked Rivonia triallists feted in Life is Wonderful|first=Pippa|last=Green|website=Business Day|date=13 June 2018|access-date=23 April 2019|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423090804/https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/life/arts-and-entertainment/2018-06-13-apartheid-history-overlooked-rivonia-triallists-feted-in-life-is-wonderful/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.mandela.ac.za/News/%E2%80%98Life-is-Wonderful%E2%80%99-screening-reinforces-call-for|title='Life is Wonderful' screening reinforces call for such histories in curriculum|date=15 June 2018|website=Nelson Mandela University|access-date=23 April 2019|archive-date=20 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020101636/http://news.mandela.ac.za/News/%E2%80%98Life-is-Wonderful%E2%80%99-screening-reinforces-call-for|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Notable people represented ===
Bizos represented the following people, among others:

* [[Nelson Mandela]], since the 1950s<ref name=memoir/><ref name="NYT obit"/>
* [[Trevor Huddleston]] of [[Sophiatown]], 1950s<ref name=memoir/>
* [[Mac Maharaj]] in the [[Little Rivonia Trial]]<ref name=memoir/>
* [[Govan Mbeki]] in the [[Rivonia Trial]] in 1963–64<ref name=memoir/>
* [[Walter Sisulu]] in the Rivonia Trial in 1963–64, and afterwards his wife<ref name=memoir/>
* [[Ahmed Timol]]'s family, regarding his death in detention in 1971<ref name=memoir/>
* [[Steve Biko]]'s family, regarding his death in detention in 1977<ref name="NYT obit"/>
* [[Neil Aggett]]'s family, regarding his death in detention in 1982<ref name=memoir/>
* [[Rob Adam]] in a trial for involvement in ANC activities, 1982<ref name="ct">''Cape Times'', 2 June 1982.</ref><ref name=memoir/>
* [[Patrick Lekota]] (known as "Terror") and [[Popo Molefe]] at the [[Delmas Treason Trial]], 1985–89<ref>{{cite news|title=Trial by Color|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/30/books/trial-by-color.html|first=Gail M.|last=Gerhart|page=10|date=30 December 1990|access-date=9 September 2020|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=29 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929202220/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/30/books/trial-by-color.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Austin/>
* [[Chris Hani]]'s family, during a [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]] hearing where Hani's assassins had applied for amnesty<ref>{{cite news|title=George Bizos, Nelson Mandela's lawyer and anti-apartheid icon, dies at 92|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/10/george-bizos-nelson-mandelas-lawyer-and-anti-apartheid-icon-dies-at-92|date=10 September 2020|access-date=10 September 2020|agency=Agence France-Presse|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|archive-date=10 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910010602/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/10/george-bizos-nelson-mandelas-lawyer-and-anti-apartheid-icon-dies-at-92|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Morgan Tsvangirai]], leader of the [[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai|Movement for Democratic Change]] of [[Zimbabwe]], when he was charged with planning a coup d'état before the 2002 general elections<ref name=SAH/><ref name="NYT obit"/>
* [[Winnie Madikizela-Mandela]]<ref name="NYT obit"/>

== Other activities ==
In the 1970s Bizos helped start a Greek school, called SAHETI. It embraced [[Culture of Greece|Hellenism]], yet was non-exclusionist, even during the heart of apartheid. It was here that people like Chris Hani's children were educated.<ref>Vithoulkas, Jeana [http://www.neoskosmos.com/news/en/Bizos-visit-Australia?page=show  (7 March 2010)], {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714163352/http://www.neoskosmos.com/news/en/Bizos-visit-Australia?page=show |title="Hellenic ideals inspired anti apartheid fighter"| date=14 July 2011 }}</ref>

Two of Mandela's daughters brought court action in 2013 to oust Bizos, ex-Housing Minister [[Tokyo Sexwale]] and lawyer Bally Chuene as directors of two of Mandela's firms. Bizos said that the daughters were trying to "get their hands on things that should not be sold". The case was delayed after the daughters' lawyer [[Ismail Ayob]] withdrew from the case.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mandela Fades Amid Battles Over Who Will Claim Legacy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/world/africa/mandela-fades-as-south-africa-battles-over-legacy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|newspaper=The New York Times|date=15 May 2013|access-date=1 October 2019|archive-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822215701/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/world/africa/mandela-fades-as-south-africa-battles-over-legacy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nelson Mandela's children turn on his lawyer George Bizos|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/9984380/Nelson-Mandelas-children-turn-on-his-lawyer-George-Bizos.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=10 April 2013|agency=AFP|access-date=1 October 2019|archive-date=1 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301152542/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/9984380/Nelson-Mandelas-children-turn-on-his-lawyer-George-Bizos.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nelson Mandela family feud deepens as Mandla hits back|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23181352|newspaper=BBC|date=4 July 2013|access-date=1 October 2019|archive-date=16 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816053420/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23181352|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nelson Mandela court case delayed after Ayob withdraws|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23491876|newspaper=BBC|date=29 July 2013|access-date=1 October 2019|archive-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109091051/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23491876|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Personal life and death ==
Bizos was married to Arethe Daflos, known as "Rita", who he met in 1948 when she was an art student. The couple had three sons. Rita died in 2017, shortly before her husband's 90th birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/328/explore/awards/honorary_degrees/2008/George_Bizos.pdf|title=George Bizos honorary degree citation|publisher=University of Cape Town|year=2008|access-date=10 September 2020|archive-date=10 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910071511/https://www.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/328/explore/awards/honorary_degrees/2008/George_Bizos.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=90thbedford/><ref name=SAH>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/george-bizos|title=George Bizos|date=17 February 2011|website=South African History Online|language=en|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=23 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123010023/http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/george-bizos|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bizos died of natural causes at home on 9 September 2020 at the age of 92.
He was given a [[state funeral|special state funeral]] on 17 September and was buried at [[Westpark Cemetery]] next to his wife Rita.<ref name=citizendeath>{{cite web | title=Human rights advocate George Bizos has died | website=The Citizen | date=9 September 2020 | url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/general/2356193/human-rights-advocate-george-bizos-has-died/ | access-date=10 September 2020 | archive-date=10 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910004524/https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/general/2356193/human-rights-advocate-george-bizos-has-died/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=bbcdeath>{{cite web | title=George Bizos: Anti-apartheid lawyer who defended Mandela dies aged 92 | website=BBC News | date=9 September 2020 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54094248 | access-date=10 September 2020 | archive-date=10 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910004643/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54094248 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In memory of George Bizos (1928-2020) |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-10-in-memory-of-george-bizos-1928-2020/ |access-date=10 September 2020 |agency=Daily Maverick |archive-date=9 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909235222/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-10-in-memory-of-george-bizos-1928-2020/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Honours and awards ==
*1999: [[Order for Meritorious Service]] Class II medal from then President Mandela.<ref name="SAHO bio"/><ref name=Austin/>
*2001: International Trial Lawyer Prize of the Year by the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.<ref name=Austin/>
*2004: The [[International Bar Association]] (IBA) named Bizos the winner of the 2004 Bernard Simons Memorial Award<ref>{{Cite press release
| title = IBA announces George Bizos as winner of Bernard Simons Memorial Award
| publisher = The International Bar Association
| date = 22 October 2004
| access-date = 14 October 2014
| url = http://www.ibanet.org/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleUid=7967B641-BC7D-40E5-85EC-44395128DDE5
| archive-date = 11 September 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911102952/http://www.ibanet.org/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleUid=7967B641-BC7D-40E5-85EC-44395128DDE5
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

==Legacy==
*George Bizos SAHETI Scholarship and Bursary Fund<ref name=90thbedford/>
*Arethe Daflos-Bizos Arts Scholarship (announced on Bizos' 90th birthday to honour his late wife)<ref name=90thbedford/>

== Works ==
* {{cite book|last=Bizos|first=George |author-link=George Bizos|title=No One to Blame?: In Pursuit of Justice in South Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nAgAzUwnyN4C|year=1998|publisher=New Africa Books|isbn=978-0-86486-319-5|display-authors=0}}
* {{cite book|last=Bizos|first=George |author-link=George Bizos|title=Odyssey to Freedom|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=COOcAAAAMAAJ |year=2011|publisher=Penguin & Random House |location=South Africa|isbn=978-1-4152-0307-1|display-authors=0}}
*{{cite book|title=65 Years of Friendship|first=George|last=Bizos|publisher=Penguin Random House South Africa|date=2017|isbn=9781415208861|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IghbDwAAQBAJ|display-authors=0}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news|title=Still fighting for his friend: An interview with George Bizos|newspaper=The Economist|date=21 July 2013|url=https://www.economist.com/baobab/2013/07/21/still-fighting-for-his-friend}}
* {{cite book|title=The Worlds Cause Lawyers Make: Structure and Agency in Legal Practice|year=2005|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=978-0804752299|page=60|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J-GRZRYydMEC&pg=PA60|editor1=Austin Sarat |editor2=Stuart Scheingold |quote=...leading human rights lawyer George Bizos}}
* {{cite book|title=Reconciliation and Pedagogy|year=2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0415687218|page=191|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a265YX6CErYC&pg=PA191|editor1=Pal Ahluwalia |editor2=Stephen Atkinson |editor3=Peter Bishop |editor4=Pam Christie |editor5=Robert Hattam |editor6=Julie Matthews |quote=George Bizos, a pre-eminent human rights lawyer who was part of the defence team in the Rivonia treason trial}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline|George Bizos}}
*[http://www.saheti.co.za/ SAHETI school]

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bizos, George}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Greek emigrants to South Africa]]
[[Category:University of the Witwatersrand alumni]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Johannesburg]]
[[Category:White South African anti-apartheid activists]]
[[Category:South African anti-apartheid activists]]
[[Category:Burials at Westpark Cemetery]]
[[Category:21st-century South African lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century South African lawyers]]