You were born in South Africa, practised law there for about a decade and, like George Bizos, you’re of Greek heritage. How did those shared roots shape your connection to him?
Bizos was the only practising trial advocate (barrister) of Greek heritage at the Johannesburg Bar until the late 1970s. As such, he was prominent in the Greek community as a lawyer, but he also played a critical role in establishing a Greek school (SAHETI), which further increased his profile in the community.
As law students, my brother Basil and I looked up to him and regarded him as a role model. Our family supported the SAHETI project and got to know Bizos through fundraising for the school and community events. Basil, in fact, served as secretary of the SAHETI board under Bizos’ leadership for a few years until he migrated to Perth in 1986.
What was it like growing up in South Africa as part of the Greek community-and did that influence your decision to pursue law?
My father migrated to South Africa from Cyprus in 1947 as a 17 year old for economic reasons. He did not have the opportunity to complete school. He instilled in Basil and I the importance of a university education and a professional occupation. This was typical of most migrant parents (in Australia too!). Our upbringing was similar to the children of Greek migrants to Perth. The structure of the Hellenic community around the Church, the Greek language school and the community centre was central to our cultural development and education.
Bizos also came from a migrant background and made his life in South Africa. Do you see parallels between his journey and your own?
Our journeys were very different. Bizos was a generation ahead of me. He has a fascinating story. He was born in Greece. In 1941, during WW II, his father assisted seven New Zealand soldiers to escape the Germans, who had occupied Greece. Bizos was 13 years old. He accompanied his father who tried to take the New Zealanders from the southern Peloponnese to Crete on a small boat. They were picked in the ocean by a British warship and taken to Egypt. Crete had fallen to the Germans. They could not return to Greece and arrived in South Africa in October 1941 as war refugees. Bizos struggled at school, because of adjustment and language difficulties, but he managed to gain entry to university to study Arts/Law and that changed his life.
My mother was born in South Africa. Her father was a Greek migrant. Her mother was South African. So, I was born and raised in South Africa. Not many Greeks of Bizos’ generation went to university. He was one of a handful of Greeks who graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in the 1940s and 50s. Greek migrants, who lacked language and occupational skills, typically worked in retail as shop assistants. Many, like their Australian counterparts, went on to become successful business and property owners. My generation was the first to produce many university graduates and professionals.
Was this film, in some way, a personal homage to your cultural and professional lineage?
No, not really. Although, in a sense, Bizos’ Greek cultural heritage no doubt influenced his political leanings and instincts. He studied the works of the ancient philosophers and loved to quote them to make or emphasise an insightful point. Their sophisticated thinking on subjects such as democracy, ethics, morality and law made a deep impression on him.
On a more personal level, he came from a small rural village. His parents were poor. He told the story of how he walked to the town nearby to go to school barefoot. He’d carry his shoes until he got to the school not to spoil them. He’d only put his shoes on when he reached the school.
Early on in his career, he defended black women from a rural area, who resisted the apartheid laws by refusing to carry identity documents (issued by the authorities) to restrict their movement. He recalls seeing the face of his mother in the faces of the defiant black woman.
Can you tell us how the project came about-and how you became involved in bringing George Bizos’ life to the screen?
Alexi (Bizos’ youngest son) and his partner Jane Thandi Lipman were the drivers of the project. They are the executive producers of the documentary. Jane, an accomplished journalist and documentary filmmaker, directed the film. Basil and I provided some funding so that the project could be completed. We were not involved in the artistic or technical side of the production or determining the content of the film. We are credited as “associate producers”. We knew and admired Bizos and wanted to ensure that a quality documentary was made to honour his legacy.
What aspects of Bizos’ life were most important to highlight in the film? Was there anything that surprised you as you delved into his story?
Bizos was at the coalface of every important milestone in the struggle against apartheid, the end of apartheid and the transition of South Africa to a democracy. It started in 1948 when, as a student at WITS, he protested the government’s decision to expel the few black students who were studying at WITS. Nelson Mandela was one of those students and they became lifelong friends. At the time, such dissent was unpopular and risked serious repercussions, which Bizos went on to suffer.
In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, Bizos defended prominent anti-apartheid activists (including Mandela) in difficult and hostile circumstances. He appeared at inquests for the families of victims (including Steve Biko) who died in police custody. He advised the ANC during the negotiations for a democratic South Africа, the drafting and the adoption of the country’s democratic constitution.
I was struck by the unusual relationship which Bizos had with the families of some of the activists he defended. He was asked by men going to prison or into exile to take care of their families during their absence. Their children referred to Bizos as “Uncle George”. The use of such a description of familiarity and intimacy by a black child in relation to a white adult was unheard of in Apartheid South Africa. It spoke of the trust the fathers had for Bizos and the respect and affection the children felt for him. He was not only regarded as a lawyer but as a white person who genuinely cared about their wellbeing. He was not the only lawyer who acted in these cases. There were giants like Braam Fischer QC, Israel (Isie) Maisels QC and Sydney Kentridge SC, who led Bizos before he took silk.
How do you balance legal accuracy and cinematic storytelling when the subject is as iconic and layered as Bizos?
As previously mentioned, I was not involved in the making of the documentary. The story is largely told through interviews with his sons, colleagues he worked with and the families of those he defended. These are firsthand accounts of interactions the narrators had with him professionally and personally. The testimony shows the courage and humanity of a great man.
Were there moments during the filmmaking process that felt especially emotional or powerful for you, given your personal and cultural ties to the story?
When I watched the documentary, I was struck by many emotional and powerful moments. It is the story of a teenager who was catapulted into the world outside of his isolated village, because seven New Zealand soldiers, who were hiding near the village, happened to need help to escape the Germans. This boy landed in South Africa as a refugee and went on to become one of the most significant anti-apartheid lawyers and to play a pivotal role in South Africa becoming a democracy.
Fate again played a hand when he left school in South Africa because he was having difficulty with the language. He was given a job by a Greek store owner to serve customers. A young teacher, who came to the store to buy something, asked him why he was not at school when he was obviously of school going age. She called the owner of the business and reprimanded him for employing a boy who should be at school. The owner was unaware that he was breaking the law. She insisted that she would fetch the boy the next day and take him to the school where she taught. Had it not been for Ms Feinstein, Bizos often wondered what would have happened to him. He would probably not have gone back to school and followed the path of other Greek migrants, who in many cases became successful business owners.
George Bizos is remembered as a freedom fighter, human rights defender, and a man of deep principle. But what do you think made him truly unique-not just as a lawyer, but as a person?
It was his humility and deeply instilled humanity, which set him apart. He recognised and resisted the injustice of Apartheid. He never forgot his humble roots and was able to identify with the underprivileged and oppressed in a way not typical of most white South Africans. He respected the dignity of everyone.
He fought against apartheid and stood for justice at great personal cost. What lessons from his career feel most urgent or relevant in today’s world, especially here in Australia?
He was regarded as a political lawyer. In the 60s and 70s, this cost him dearly both personally and professionally. Although he was a competent commercial lawyer, he was not briefed by the large establishment law firms. He was under constant surveillance and threat by the apartheid authorities. He was denied a South African passport for over 30 years and could not travel outside of South Africa. He did not take a Greek passport because he feared that he would be deported. He also feared that if he travelled outside of South Africa, he would not be allowed re-entry. So, by standing up for what is right, he suffered financially. The government intruded into his personal life and he was ostracised by many white conservatives.
As for lessons relevant to today, he stood firmly against the abuse of political power. He believed in the rule of law, respect for human rights and the strict compliance with a country’s constitution and democratic norms. These principles were not negotiable, and it was the duty of everyone to live up them and protect them. Unfortunately, in recent times, we’ve witnessed the erosion of these principles. Just look at what is happening in the USA.
Do you think his Greek background gave him a particular lens through which he viewed justice and injustice?
I believe he was influenced by his upbringing in Greece in the 1930s and after the outbreak of WWII. He knew what it was like to be poor. He could therefore identify with the underprivileged in South Africa in a way that was personal. His love of ancient Greek philosophy, l’m sure, also influenced his view of justice.
You’ve had a long legal career, both in South Africa and now in Perth. How has telling Bizos’ story influenced your view of the law or your own legal philosophy?
I was influenced by Bizos’ opposition to apartheid as a law student and after I went into practice. It’s fair to say that most white South Africans supported apartheid and found ways to justify it. Others were simply ambivalent and found solace in telling themselves there was nothing they could do to change things. Bizos (and others like him) were an “uncomfortable” reminder that the system was unjust. I was influenced by his courage and uncompromising opposition to Apartheid.
Do you think the legal profession sometimes forgets the human stories at the heart of what we do? Can film and storytelling help bring those back into focus?
Yes, to both questions.
How important is it for lawyers-especially those from culturally diverse backgrounds-to help preserve and share these kinds of stories?
Stories like these are becoming rarer as new generations are born in adopted countries. Sharing cultural backgrounds and experiences leads to better understanding and tolerance. Lawyers can only benefit from understanding the cultural diversity not only of the profession but also their clients.
What impact do you hope the film will have-on lawyers, on young people, on those who may never have heard of George Bizos?
I believe the film will have a profound impact on young people and others who may not have heard of George Bizos. I speak from personal experience having spoken with people who have seen the film. The typical comment is that the story is inspirational. Audiences are impressed by his humility, courage and dignity.
Finally, what do you think George Bizos would say if he could watch this film today?
I think he’d be pleased with the outcome. It is honest.
The Law Society will soon be hosting a screening of George Bizos: Icon at a cinema in Perth. Keep an eye out for updates on social media.
