Leaders call for unity at 28th annual Chris Hani commemoration in Boksburg

The former South African Communist Party (SACP) leader, Chris Hani, was killed outside his home in Dawn Park on April 10, 1993, in an assassination that shocked the nation – and threatened to derail the ongoing negotiations and peace talks ahead of the first democratic elections held in 1994.

Hani was gunned down by Janusz Walusin, who along with his accomplice, the late Clive Derby-Lewis, was subsequently jailed.

The anti-apartheid soldier’s 28th annual wreath-laying ceremony was led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ekurhuleni mayor Clr Mzwandile Masina and the Hani family at Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park on April 10.
This year, attendees of the commemoration of Hani’s life included representatives from all members of the ANC-led tripartite alliance and opposition parties in the City of Ekurhuleni.

Chris was a unifier
Speaking at the event, Ramaphosa described Hani as a unifier. The president called for unity within the ruling party, urging ANC members to follow in the footsteps of Hani.

“Comrade Chris in many ways and many respects embodied the finest traditions of our revolutionary alliance, which brings together the ANC, his party and Cosatu. The traditions that are so well embodied in the life of Chris Hani are the tradition of unity, traditions of whoever seeking to renew his organisation, the ANC, traditions of integrity, honesty and service to the people.

“Comrade Chris was a unifier, but above anything else, he was a nation builder, even as a communist he was a quintessential national builder. He was a champion of non-racialism, non-sexism deeply committed to breaking down the bearers that had long kept our people apart.

“He was not the kind of a leader who through reckless behaviour, ill-discipline and self-serving actions would divide his movement and polarise the nation. That was not Chris, he embodied the revolutionary qualities that we need in our leaders today.

“For Chris Hani, critical and honest debate was a necessary condition for unity, but also for organisational renewal, which was also a necessary condition for progress. We must also follow in Chris’s footsteps.

“We meet here to remember and honour a great son of our soil. We meet here to recall the enormous contribution that Chris made to the struggle for the freedom of our people.

“We remember his kindness, his selflessness, his modesty and we also remember his intellect and his unwavering courage.

“He was a man of ideas and at the same time also a man of actions. He was a person of total integrity and a person of a high sense of humour, of absolute sincerity, a person in his conduct, not one stain could be found.

“He was a leader who put the interest of the people above his own. He did not allow himself to be captured by other interests. He put the well-being and safety of the people before his own.

Challenges faced
“Amid of this global challenge (Covid-19) Comrade Chris would have inspired us not to lose hope. He would have said to us despondence and losing hope solves no problem and brings no glory to any nation.

“Great giants such as Chris have shaped our future as a country. There is no doubt that Chris has inspired this movement to internalise the fact that every challenge is surmountable. The many challenges we face as a country today will be overcome. The coronavirus that we are facing will be brought under control and defeated.

“Indeed, socio-economic misfortunes of inequality, unemployment and poverty can never be permanent and go on forever. If we are united as a movement and as an alliance, we would be able to come up with clear strategies and plans to overcome inequality, poverty and unemployment. And in addition, corruption will equally be overcome as long as we act on it and as long as we work together to bring an end to corruption,” said Ramaphosa.

Call for unity
Hani’s wife, Limpho Hani, also described her husband as a unifier and pleaded with speakers not to use the ceremony as a platform for finger-pointing among leaders.

“Chris was a unifier. Right here, we are standing on his grave, let’s not bring the discussion from the NEC meetings onto this function. Let’s use this occasion to be one and rebuild the organisation,” pleaded Limpho.

Janusz Walus must rot in jail
Meanwhile, SACP leader Blade Nzimande stated that the killer of Hani should rot in jail until he reveals the whole truth.
He said his party would remain opposed to Walus’ release on parole, as the whole truth about the circumstances that led to Hani’s assassination has not come out. “Janusz Walus must rot in jail.”

Factionalism is tearing the movement apart
It appears that Limpho’s plea fell on deaf ears as the SACP general secretary, Nzimande, who spoke after her, used the platform to lambast those he said are using the movement and its Umkhonto Wesizwe Military Veterans’ Association to advance their own personal interests.

“Comrade Chris was about the unity of the movement and in honour of Chris, let’s defend the unity of our movement, starting with the ANC first. We also condemn very strong the factionalist abuse of the name Umkhonto Wesizwe.
“Don’t abuse the honour and memory of Umkhonto Wesizwe to pursue factionalist battles and project MK as if it was a private army of some leaders of the ANC and the alliance.
“You are confusing and misrepresenting. In fact, it’s an insult to the memory of someone like Comrade Chris Hani, who made the supreme sacrifice on April 10, 1993, for the sake of the future of this country,” said Nzimande.

Wall of remembrance
The event was wrapped up with a walkabout through the wall of remembrance that narrates Hani’s life and timeline.

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