TWENTY years ago, April 10 1993, South African Communist Party general secretary Chris Hani was assassinated outside his home in Boksburg near Johannesburg.
He was gunned down by Janus “Kuba” Walus, a member of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging on Easter Saturday.
The entire country mourned – riots erupted and there were mass gatherings in townships around the Eastern Cape.
Cleopatra Hani, daughter of the late chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe said her father had been a champion of the people and regarded education as a high priority.
The family would use next month to commemorate his death at Sabalele, his birthplace.
“We have a three-day event planned, which includes a mini- marathon and performances by jazz groups from rural and township areas.
“There will be singing and rejoicing, in an effort to heal wounds,” said Cleopatra.
“We have invited MK veterans and we also invite all children who can get to Sabalele to join us because children need nurturing, and my father believed in that,” she continued.
Speaking of the government today she said our leaders needed to be respected and given the chance to do what was right. She believed job creation was still our country’s toughest challenge.
“We need to alleviate poverty, because poverty creates criminal activities. Our rural areas are the hardest hit; rural areas still need to be developed ,” she said.
Thabang Maseko, provincial spokesperson of the Young Communist League said: “He was one of the greatest heroes; he made great efforts to fight apartheid and as young people we want to encourage the youth to be aware of what he stood for and what he inspired.”
SACP provincial spokesperson Siyabonga Mdodi said: “We have a series of events lined up for Hani month, such as lectures, in an attempt to breed leaders of his calibre.”
Chris Hani’s life to be celebrated
He was gunned down by Janus “Kuba” Walus, a member of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging on Easter Saturday.
The entire country mourned – riots erupted and there were mass gatherings in townships around the Eastern Cape.
Cleopatra Hani, daughter of the late chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe said her father had been a champion of the people and regarded education as a high priority.
The family would use next month to commemorate his death at Sabalele, his birthplace.
“We have a three-day event planned, which includes a mini- marathon and performances by jazz groups from rural and township areas.
“There will be singing and rejoicing, in an effort to heal wounds,” said Cleopatra.
“We have invited MK veterans and we also invite all children who can get to Sabalele to join us because children need nurturing, and my father believed in that,” she continued.
Speaking of the government today she said our leaders needed to be respected and given the chance to do what was right. She believed job creation was still our country’s toughest challenge.
“We need to alleviate poverty, because poverty creates criminal activities. Our rural areas are the hardest hit; rural areas still need to be developed ,” she said.
Thabang Maseko, provincial spokesperson of the Young Communist League said: “He was one of the greatest heroes; he made great efforts to fight apartheid and as young people we want to encourage the youth to be aware of what he stood for and what he inspired.”
SACP provincial spokesperson Siyabonga Mdodi said: “We have a series of events lined up for Hani month, such as lectures, in an attempt to breed leaders of his calibre.”
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