Bizos talks life with Madiba

In his upcoming book, 65 Years of Friendship, Advocate George Bizos will pay tribute to the late former president, Dr Nelson Mandela.

Adv Bizos, who will celebrate his 89th birthday come November 14, said Madiba was more than a friend.

“I met him at Wits University in 1948 during a student protest and our friendship kept growing,” said Adv Bizos.

He described Madiba as a humble, down to earth and wise man.

“I became an advocate in 1954 and he [Madiba] and [Oliver] Tambo already had a practice. They would give me work often. I remember an incident where Madiba represented a man in Kempton Park. The magistrate presiding over the case refused to continue with the trial because a black lawyer was representing the defence. Nelson [Madiba] came to me very angry. He asked me to go and continue with that case on his behalf and I told him no. Instead, after writing to the authorities we managed to get the magistrate to recuse himself,” said Adv Bizos.

He said in the 65 years of friendship with Madiba, they shared laughter and many great memories.

“I remember while I was still a student doing part time work at an attorney’s firm, I was tasked to serve eviction papers to a tailor who operated in a building in the city. Upon arrival I was surprised to find the tailor, on his knees, taking measurements for a suit. It was Madiba who was being measured. He was getting his suit made by this tailor. I was so intrigued by how simply he lived his life,” said Adv Bizos.

He said his book would be available for launching soon.

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