George Bizos passed away on the 9 September 2020. The article below was written by journalist Lucille Davie on 25 November 2002. It captures key aspects of his life and his love for the City of Johannesburg. Click here to view more of Davie's work.
Distinguished human rights advocate George Bizos “loves the people” of Johannesburg, the city where he has lived for most of his life. He loves the “air, vibrancy, and memories” of the city where he studied for a law degree at Wits, married and raised a family of three sons. Those good memories include the “many loyal friends I have been with during difficult times”.
Wits University (The Heritage Portal)
He arrived in South Africa at the age of 13 with his father in 1941. They were World War II refugees picked up from an open boat off Crete, from where they were taken to a refugee camp in Alexandria, Egypt. Next stop was Durban, and then up to Johannesburg where the local Greek community smoothed their entry into the city.
Bizos has been an advocate in the city for many years, and since 1990 has been working at the Legal Resources Centre and the Constitutional Litigation Unit, as counsel to 40 lawyers. He has dedicated his working life fighting for basic human rights under apartheid...
