Lindiwe Hani cannot ‘get’ over apartheid

Hundreds of people wearing ANC and SACP shirts chanted struggle slogans and anti-apartheid songs yesterday (April 10) at the Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park in Elspark to commemorate the late struggle icon, Chris Hani.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Hani’s death after he was assassinated outside his home in Dawn Park in 1993.

In attendance was the Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina, Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa, SACP general secretary Dr Blade Nzimande, ANC elections chief Fikile Mbalula, Dali Tambo, the Hani family, MMC’s, MEC’s and many more.

Hani’s daughter, Lindiwe Hani, also used the opportunity to pay a moving tribute to Winnie Madikizela Mandela saying the stalwart is a reason she can stand as a proud black woman.

“There have been so many things said about Winnie that I have found unpalatable, whether in the media, leaders or those defending her. Winnie does not need to be defended. Her actions are the reasons I can stand as an independent, unapologetic black woman.”

She also shared that they once lived in Madikizela’s house in Soweto when they moved from Lesotho.

Lindiwe Hani said her dad died on an Easter Saturday and on Easter Monday Mama Winnie died, and then lastly OR Tambo died end of April.

Hani said she is told every day how she needs to get over apartheid but she simply cannot.

“As I stand a few feet from my father’s grave, it is clear that I will never get over it. To those people saying that we should get over it‚ I think they need to exercise a whole lot of empathy‚ sensitivity and acknowledge what we went through.

“It was the darkest time of this country and the healing and working through it should be a collective effort and not just one for the privileged. It is our collective painful history.

“We must own it‚ embrace it and work through it. I think forgiveness and reconciliation were put upon us before we were ready.

“I am yet to recollect the apartheid government as a whole apologising for those atrocities. I find it difficult to forgive something that even the perpetrators have not even acknowledged‚” Hani said.

Key note address by Hon Nkosinathi Mthethwa underway at the Chris Hani wreath laying ceremony at the Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park @BoksburgNews #BoksburgAdvertiser#ChrisHani

— Ntombi Sibeko (@CharityNtombza) April 10, 2018

We need to reconfigure how the alliance is functioning. We need to strenghen the party by being united- Blade Ndzimande (SACP) @BoksburgNews #BoksburgAdvertiser #ChrisHani #RIP #WreathLayingCeremony

— Ntombi Sibeko (@CharityNtombza) April 10, 2018

Richard Mdakane from SANCO says they have a duty to serve the people of SA with dignity. By grinding unemployment and poverty to keeping the spirit of Chris Hani alive @BoksburgNews #ChrisHani

— Ntombi Sibeko (@CharityNtombza) April 10, 2018

Winnie Mandela was fearless, she has nothing to be sorry about -Lindiwe Hani addressing the crowed at the Chris Hani Memorial celebrations underway at the Thomas Nkobi Memorial gravesite @BoksburgNews #ChrisHani

— Ntombi Sibeko (@CharityNtombza) April 10, 2018

Honouring and celebrating the life of Chris Hani who was a giant fighter – Lesiba Mpya @BoksburgNews #ChrisHani

— Ntombi Sibeko (@CharityNtombza) April 10, 2018

Masina said since the death of Chris Hani, the democratic forces of South Africa have maintained the momentum to honour comrade Hani by pursuing the course of justice, peace, truth and reconciliation.

“We have done this to build a truly non-racial, non-sexist democratic prosperous South Africa in which everyone will have access to social and economic justice.”

Masina also sent condolences to the Madikizela family.

“We come to the resting place of Chris Hani with bleeding hearts due to the loss of the mother of the nation, Mama Madikizela Mandela. Madikizela has made many contributions in Ekurhuleni as she made sure there’s peace in our area.”

Masina said South Africa needs more people like Chris Hani and Winnie Mandela who will have the courage and moral fortitudes and confront racism.

Masina highlighted that they are still continuing in preserving Hani’s memory by building a museum for him.

Fikile Mabula said that the struggle icon was a militant and a revolutionary.

“We don’t talk about revolutionaries when they are alive but we talk about them when they are no more,” Mbalula said.

Mbalula said Masina should finish the museum because if he doesn’t they will have ‘barking dogs’ asking about the museum, like that of Winnie Mandela’s house in Brandfort.

Meanwhile, Blade Nzimande said Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus, should not be given a parole because he hasn’t revealed everything he knows about Hani’s death.

Arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa gave the keynote address for the day where he highlighted the life and times of Chris Hani.

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GALLERY: In pictures: Chris Hani’s wreath laying ceremony