A partnership that works - Ekurhuleni
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a partnership that works
Foreword
Honouring Hani in uncertain times
Executive Mayor, City of Ekurhuleni
The 27th anniversary of South African Communist Party stalwart and
Umkhonto we Sizwe commander Chris Martin Thembisile Hani takes
place in fearful and uncertain times. It finds almost half the world’s
population under various forms of restrictive measures adopted to
contain the spread of the Covid19 pandemic.
South Africa is in the midst of mood both tense and sombre, precious: namely life itself?”
an unprecedented lockdown we awaited to be addressed by That sums up the man that
which prevented us as the City the then chairman of the ANC Hani was.
of Ekurhuleni from hosting the in the Pretoria Witwatersrand
commemoration as would have and Vaal region, Tokyo More importantly, without
wished. This would have Sexwale. being conscious of it, Hani’s
included the opening of the principles and those of a
Chris Hani Museum at the I was also at Hani’s funeral a number of other struggle
stalwart’s home in Dawn Park week later to listen to ANC heroes who did not live to see
on 10 April 2020. But this President Nelson Mandela call democracy underpin South
should not prevent us from for calm and restraint and the Africa’s constitution. Most
celebrating his memory in our resolve as we were working to notable of these is the Bill of
hearts, through virtual means as usher in a democratic order. Rights, which contains rights
enabled by technology and These events shaped my desire that Hani believed citizens are
through the written words as to honour struggle heroes, entitled to from birth without
we do in this special Chris Hani especially those who paid with having to fight for them. From
digital edition today. their lives, and I am grateful for an early age, Hani was driven
the opportunity to lead the by a desire for a better
Hani’s assassination was a process since assuming office treatment of African workers
potentially cataclysmic event in August 2016. The process who were exploited and
that simultaneously threatened turning Hani’s home into the treated unjustly. His exposure
to derail South Africa’s Chris Hani museum, now in its to the racist nature of
democracy project, as its final stages, is a profound and successive minority
orchestrators had intended, but significant one. governments that shaped his
also galvanised the country to belief in human rights as
embark on the last leg of the Hani’s most enduring value is contained in the constitution.
journey towards the historic that of selflessness and
1994 general election. sacrifice. He is known to have Hani was passionate about and
openly declared “I have never preoccupied with eradicating
I was 19 at the time of this wanted to spare myself Hunger, promoting good
tragic incident and a student at because I feel there are people Health and Housing for all.
Mpontseng High School in who are no longer around and These three Hs of Health,
Katlehong, I was among the died for this struggle. What Housing and Hunger guide our
hundreds of young people who right do I have to hold back, to work as a city and realising
poured into Dawn Park when rest, to preserve my health, to them is our tribute to this
news of the incident first broke. have time with my family when revolutionary giant, who was
We found the scene cordoned there are other people who are granted freedom of the city in
off by police before Hani’s no longer alive when they November 2006.
body was removed. With the sacrificed what is most
a partnership that works 2.
Executive Mayor Cllr Mzwandile Masina laying a
reef during the previous Chris Hani’s
commemoration
Our 93 clinics all enjoy ideal which is aimed at stimulating limit our movement and
status and are ready to serve as economic activity through observe strict hygiene
sites for the National Health tourism. Hani would have measures.
Insurance (NHI) and makes us wanted the museum to
one of the best regions in stimulate economic activities to If Hani were alive today, his call
primary health care in the benefit primarily his to the global leadership would
country. On housing, we set neighbouring community of be for calm and solutions in the
ourselves the target of Dawn Park but also the wider midst of an epidemic. Hani
providing 100 000 during our community of Ekurhuleni. He would call for the
term of office and to date, we would want to see the museum strengthening of global public
have provided 30 000 houses and the Memorial Park named health systems and
and 59 000 serviced stands to in his honour and situated next improvement of universal
improve access to housing. As to his grave contribute directly access to health. For South
a city, we spend R4 billion towards the creation of jobs, to Africa, he would refuse to allow
towards cushioning the poor help fight unemployment in the us to rest on the laurels of
against the effects of hunger country. As he often used to global praise we are receiving
and poverty and believe this is say “if you want peace, you for our handling of the crisis
among the highest levels of must fight for social justice.” and instead call for a rollout of
expenditure for the poor and an aggressive screening,
indigent. Hani was also a believer in testing and treatment
active citizenship and would programme at no cost to the
We must maintain and improve expect South Africans to citizens. Post Covid19, he
on these standards to truly remain actively engaged with would call for the preservation
honour the legacy of fallen the government between of jobs and livelihoods by
heroes like Hani, Thomas elections and hold all public strengthening and reviving
Nkobi, Bertha Gxowa and representatives, from economies.
Margaret Gazo among many councillors to members of
others. parliament and the executive, We need his wisdom now more
accountable. He would also than when he was brutally
The Chris Hani Museum is a expect us to play our part taken away from us. His spirit
critical component of whenever called upon, such as lives on.
Ekurhuleni’s struggle route, now when we are expected to
a partnership that works 3.
A struggle icon’s life in words and pictures.
The Chris Hani Museum
The life and times of SACP 24th March in 2017 before struggle and the negotiated
stalwart and liberation struggle being unveiled by former transition for a free and
icon Chris Hani are fittingly paid president Jacob Zuma on April democratic South Africa.” The
tribute to in the Chris Hani 10 2017. citation from SAHRA reads. It
Museum and the Chris Hani tells of his role as leader of
monument and Walk of Thomas Nkobi is a former the Luthuli Detachment in the
Remembrance respectively Treasurer General of the ANC Wankie Campaign and was
located at his home and his who played a key part in the instrumental in the drafting of
grave in Dawn Park, a suburb of liberation struggle after joining the “Hani Memorandum”
Boksburg in Ekurhuleni. the ANC in 1950. At the time which ultimately led to the
The Chris Hani monument in of his death in 1994 at the age Morogoro Conference in 1969
South Park cemetery now of 72, he was an ANC Member which brought about strategic
known as the Thomas Nkobi of Parliament. changes within the ANC.
Memorial Garden was unveiled
at the 2015 anniversary of his “Chris Hani, was a well SAHRA further notes Hani as a
death while the South African respected and revered leader strong proponent of the
Heritage Resource Agency of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), peaceful negotiations after
(SAHRA) declared his grave and the South African Communist the unbanning of liberation
the Chris Hani Memorial and Party and senior ranking ANC movements and played a
Walk of Remembrance as a official, who played an critical role in the MK
National Heritage site on the important role in the liberation abandoning the armed
a partnership that works 4.
struggle. “His assassination The Memorial and Walk of Wattville, then through the Hani
brought the country to the brink remembrance are characterised Memorial and museum and
of civil war that led to Nelson by the use of simple material takes in the Khumalo Street in
Mandela’s plea, in what is rich earthy tones to show nearby Thokoza, which has a
regarded as a “presidential” capture the essence of the life of memorial in honour of those
statement, for calm and for all simplicity that Hani exemplified. who died in intense political
South Africans to stand together The Monument consists of the violence in the early 90s.
in ensuring a peaceful transition. four pillars of the liberation
“The tensions at the time struggle. The Walk of The museum is created from the
hastened the CODESA Remembrance is a short compact home that Hani and his
negotiations and an agreement meandering route that leads to family made their home in the
on a date for the first a Wall of Remembrance for early 90s, when Dawn Park was
democratic elections,” the fallen struggle heroes. still a predominantly white
citation says of the historical neighbourhood. The house has
moment. Ekurhuleni executive Mayor been restored to its original
Mzwandile Masina sees the state at the time of Hani’s
Finally, the agency notes that his museum and Memorial Park as a passing. Its four bedrooms and
gravesite and the Chris Hani critical part of a Struggle route living area now serves as a
Memorial and Walk of that can be explored by local tribute to various aspects of
Remembrance commemorate and international tourists. Hani’s life and activism.
his life, work and sacrifice and Masina says the route starts at
contribution to a free and a the OR Tambo International “What we need in South Africa is
democratic South Africa “and Airport and the OR Tambo for egos to be suppressed in favour
mark a pivotal point in our Narrative Centre and goes of peace” reads part of an
history in which the leadership through the home and grave of inscription at the entrance of the
and commitment to peaceful another giant of the struggle, museum. “We need to create a new
transition was proved.” Oliver Reginald Tambo in breed of South Africans who love
a partnership that works 5.
A hole left by one of the
bullets that missed Chris Hani
their country and love devout Catholic, while his sense The main bedroom of the house
everybody, irrespective of their of patriarchy was shaped by his tells the Hani love story centred
colour” the inscription experience of his father’s on Hani’s marriage in 1974 to
continues. generation being away in the Limpo, whom he married in
mines in the Transvaal, sugar Lusaka and with whom he has
Inside the house on walls and plantations in Natal and farms in three daughters: Neo, the late
sandblasted windows, Hani’s the Cape. Nomakhwezi buried alongside
story is told through words and him and Lindiwe.
pictures. From his belief that “if He obtained his education at
you want peace, you have to Sabalele, Zingudu, Matanzima The Children’s bedrooms are
fight for social justice” to his High in Cala before enrolling in dedicated to their own life
desire to see “progress towards the prestigious Lovedale journeys while the main family
the eradication of hunger” and College in Alice, where he room tells of Hani’s political
“the promotion of good health joined youth and political career and leadership and
and housing for all” his values movements including the ANC activism and life in exile. Hani’s
resonate throughout the house. Youth League, inspired by the journey into exile started when
arrest of the 1956 Treason he received a jail sentence and
The first section of the museum Trialists. The sight of African went into hiding, moving to
comprising the entrance,garden workers who were exploited with Bechaunaland (Botswana) and
and thatch area tells of Hani’s no union rights attracted him to the Northern Rhodesia (Zambia)
early life. Born in 1942 in socialism. In 1959 he where he was briefly detained
Sabalele, Cofimvaba in the registered in Fort Hare and was then moved to Tanganyika
Eastern Cape, the museum attracted to Marxist ideas after (Tanzania) before being
traces his timeline and being exposed to the brutality dispatched to receive military
upbringing in various ways. The and racism of the apartheid training.
fifth of six children, his early life regime at the time.
was shaped through being a
a partnership that works 6.
Gym equipment previously
used by Chris Hani
In sections of the museum, he Chris Hani Tombstone
takes up his life story in his own
words in a February 1991
narrative. “In 1961 I joined the
underground South African
Communist Party as I realised
that national liberation,
although essential, would not
bring about economic
liberation” Hani says, noting
that the decision was
influenced by the likes of
Govan Mbeki, Braam Fischer,
JB Marks, Moses Kotane and present crisis of apartheid.” He and agreeing to negotiate. He
Ray Simons. wrote at the time. ends off the narrative by noting
In 1967, Hani fought alongside that the decision to suspend
This was followed in 1962 by the Zipra forces in Zimbabwe the armed struggle was the
his decision to join the then as a political commissar before correct one and an important
fledgling uMkhonto we Sizwe returning to South Africa in contribution to sustaining the
(MK) because of what he 1974 and then to exile in momentum of negotiations.
describes as the “intransigence Lesotho to set up underground
of the racist regime” This saw structures in South Africa. Hani The SACP, which is arguably
three unsuccessful assassination maintained that the four pillars the most embedded in Hani’s
attempts on him. “The armed of the liberation struggle identity and to whose central
struggle, which we never brought apartheid to its knees committee Hani was elected in
regarded as exclusive as we with the regime reluctantly 1970, is paid tribute through a
combined it with other forms of recognising the legitimacy of “red room” in the patio,
struggle, has brought about the banned political organisations espousing Hani’s values and
a partnership that works 7.
Chris Hani by Reiner Leist.
When completed, the museum Ekurhuleni was already spending
the party’s beliefs. Its slogan,
will also serve as a tribute to R4 billion on cushioning its
“for the workers and the poor”
Hani’s legacy. Masina believes poorest residents against
was a guiding Matra in Hani’s
that the best way that the city hunger and poverty. The
life and comes to mind as one
can pay tribute to Hani is to heightened response to
meanders through the rooms as
realise its goals of providing Covid19 has seen the City beef
it is also etched at the walk of
Housing, Health and fighting up its food parcel distribution
remembrance.
Hunger among its citizens. The network.
The Lounge is dedicated to executive mayor says the city’s
progress on these goals is being In 1998, the SACP awarded the
Hani’s later political life
tested by the Covid 19 outbreak late former President Nelson
including the negotiations to
which has led to a nationwide Mandela the Chris Hani award.
transition to democracy at the
shutdown since late March. Ten years after his passing, in
Congress for Democratic South
2003 the Chris Hani Institute was
Africa (Codesa) while the kitchen
Masina notes the city’s clinics launched in Braamfontein,
pays tribute to gender based
are graded as ideal and some Johannesburg.
roles in running the household.
The garage and driveway are testing sites for Covid19 and
are ready to serve as sites of In 2006, the City bestowed its
leading to the exit are dedicated
launching the National Health highest honour on the stalwart
to the final horrific moments of
Insurance (NHI). when it gave him the Freedom
Hani’s assasination. Reminders
of the City. “Chris Hani is the
of the tragic shooting on the
Masina’s administration has freeman of the City of
morning of 10 April 1993 are
launched a number of mega Ekurhuleni, conferred upon him
etched on his driveway through
projects to provide housing in for his outstanding political life
bullet holes on his garage door
and a wooden panel that was pursuit of its goal to provide 100 and contributions towards the
000 housing units over its term freedom enjoyed by South
ripped when he was shot at
close range. of office. Even before Covid19, Africans today,” the City
declared.
a partnership that works 8.
why he was happy to
participate in structures that
led to its preservation.
The Struggle route is located
within the broader tourism
offering within Ekurhuleni,
home of the busiest airport in
Africa. The development of the
struggle routes and the
Khumalo Street tourism hub
will also include the museum
for the Congress for
Democratic South Africa
(Codesa), the negotiations that
took place in two parts in
Kempton Park in which the
likes of Hani played a key role.
Entertainment in the area is
anchored on two major
casinos, Emperors Palace and
Carnival City in Brakpan then
complemented by shopping at
Chris Hani: Leader of the South major shopping centres and
African Communist Party outdoor on the region’s lakes
and Wetlands. All this with
easy access to Pretoria and
“The HHH (Health, Hunger and Sozi Singwane, a neighbour Johannesburg.
Chris Hani Tombstone
Housing) - campaign is part of residing a stone throw away
the legacy that Chris Hani left from the museum, says he is People with an interest in
for us to carry forward. It is our looking forward to seeing it history and architecture can
responsibility to break down take off and streaming with visit Iron Age settlements
the barriers of social injustice visitors. “it is an important part which predate the discovery of
and advance the heroes’ vision of history and I look forward to gold in 1886 on a section of
of minimizing unemployment, informing people about this the reef now known as
eradicating poverty, providing development, which will also Johannesburg. Ekurhuleni has
shelter to everyone and change the perception that the second highest
promoting an environment everything happens in Soweto, concentration of Art Décor
characterised by healthy society “he says. Having moved into buildings in the world after
that is at peace with itself” the the years after the tragic events Florida in the United States.
city stated in its declaration. of April 1993 and in his 30s The buildings are found in
in 2012, Hani was awarded relatively to fully comprehend areas such as around the
Gold Medal for Bravery for his the scale and context of those Springs Station.
central role in the Wankie events, he feels the museum
campaign by the department of will be an important tool of In 2016, the City adopted a
Military Veterans. The teaching history to younger Tourism strategy that aims to
department also awarded generations. Singwane hopes position the region as a
Platinum Medal Class II for his the museum can also directly preferred tourism destination,
leadership role in the ANC and benefit his taxi hailing business, taking advantage of the
MK in exile and extreme where he is a driver. proximity to OR Tambo airport.
devotion to duty. Africa’s The City plans to invest over R
largest hospital, the Chris Hani A local activist in the 500 million to develop tourism
Baragwanath hospital in neighbourhood describes the in the Ekurhuleni region in the
Soweto, bears the stalwart’s house as “symbolic” and thus coming few years.
name. important to preserve, which is
a partnership that works 9.
The Chris Hani Museum & Wall of Remembrance Gallery a partnership that works 10.
Chris Hani Tombstone a partnership that works 11.
Chris Hani Tombstone a partnership that works 12.
Chris Hani – a daughter keeps the legacy alive
Lindiwe Hani
Lindiwe Hani still cannot bring commemorating Hani’s company of her father when he
herself to look at the historic assassination without was killed, passed away in 2001.
photograph of her father’s prominently carrying the
bloodied body lying in the photograph. While the grisly moment frozen
driveway of their home after in time brought positive change
being struck by an assassin’s It has come to symbolise Hani as to the political landscape in
bullets on 10 April 1993. a political martyr whose killing South Africa, to Lindiwe, who
fast tracked South Africa’s was only 12 years old then, it
The gory, repulsive photograph journey to its first democratic meant the beginning of a long,
has earned its place on the election on 27 April 1994. tumultuous journey of sorrow.
significant timeline of history – in
the same vein as the iconic But to the Hani’s last born child “That was always a very jarring
photograph of a dying Hector Lindiwe, the photograph experience, very difficult to
Pietersen being carried by remains a source of great pain, a move on from such brutality,”
Mbuyisa Makhubu at the reminder of the agony she has Lindiwe reflects on the moment
outbreak of the 16 June 1976 been trying to run away from for that brought SA to the brink of a
riots. the better part of the past two bloody, racial civil war.
and a half decades.
In the past 27 years since his She was visiting her mom’s
death at the hands of right- Lindiwe is the third of Chris and family in Maseru when Hani was
winger Janus Waluz, it has Limpho Hani’s three daughters, shot during the Easter weekend
become almost impossible to Nomakhwezi and Neo. of 1993.
come across a publication Nomakhwezi, who was in the
a partnership that works 13.Chris Hani
Twenty seven long years have bullet found its mark. Lindiwe “I think that if Ekurhuleni does
passed since the image was sank into a state of deep it properly with dignity and
shot. Yet for Lindiwe, time has depression which saw her later sensitivity, he was a huge part
not eroded the pain. slip into drug and alcohol of our history and our Struggle
addiction. She has been clean and I appreciate him being
It still evokes shock and for the past five years and now commemorated that way,” she
disbelief that the doting father confronting her life as the says.
she loved and respected daughter of the SA Communist
dearly, is the one lying in a pool Party and uMkhonto we Sizwe Lindiwe wishes that one of the
of blood, helpless and silent. stalwart. things the museum would
achieve is to offer young
“No, I don’t manage to look at News that the Ekurhuleni people an opportunity to learn
the image. If I see it I just Metro will be honouring Hani’s about her father’s best
glance past it. It is a reminder legacy this year by among attributes which included
of one of the worst day of my others turning his Dawn Park giving to the needy, speaking
life. It’s effectively the day our home into a museum, has out against injustice and
family was destroyed,” Lindiwe reassured Lindiwe her father’s contributing to the building of
says in a telephonic interview. legacy will not evaporate into society.
memory. It will also help her
“
“
In her book Being Chris Hani’s and probably her family, move
Daughter, Lindiwe offers towards some form of closure.
insights into her close
relationship with her father,
how they swam together in I think that if Ekurhuleni does it properly with
their Dawn Park home and also
how she used to cycle behind
dignity and sensitivity, he was a huge part of
him as he jogged around the our history and our Struggle and I appreciate
neighbourhood.
him being commemorated that way
All that ended when Waluz’s
a partnership that works 14.“
“Before he was assassinated it She believes Hani was an
[our house] was a home of joy, ordinary man doing
bustling and full of people in extraordinary things and
and out. If we can curate it in
that manner it would be great,”
should be remembered that
way.
He was put in
Lindiwe says.
a situation
Lindiwe believes that although
the killing of her father was a
tragic moment in our history,
more should be done to learn
from and commemorate his
legacy than focusing solely on
the spilling of his blood.
“He was put in a situation
where he had no choice but to
fight for his country,” she says,
adding that at home Hani
could be strict.
“He didn’t understand giving
up,” Lindiwe says of her
“
where he had
no choice but
to fight for his
father’s resilience.
It is a journey she too country,
embarked on a few years ago Hani had such an impact on
since she emerged from a Lindiwe that after his death she
period of ridding herself from lived with the constant fear of
the substance addiction behind failing to live up to his high
which she was trying to avoid expectations. She felt a heavy
confronting her pain. load carrying the name of this
a partnership that works 15.days where I feel like I’m letting
my father down,” she says.
Months before Hani was
murdered, Lindiwe was
troubled by nightmares in
which a killer was on the
lookout for him. Now that he is
no more in the physical Lindiwe
still has a strong spiritual
connection to Hani who vividly
visits her in her dreams.
“I sensed him very strongly
during lockdown. We are very
much connected spiritually with
my father.”
Hani’s killer Waluz was denied
parole in March by Minister of
Justice Ronald Lamola. Lindiwe
has met the man who pulled
the trigger that fateful morning
in April 1993 several times.
She prefers to keep her views
on whether the convicted
murderer should
Chris Hani be granted
Tombstone
parole to herself.
Chris Hani’s widow
Limpho Hani But adds: “I have different
feelings about it, my biggest
emotion is that it would will not
bring back my father, whether
man, who was to millions of the blood of one of the he is in jail or free it doesn’t
oppressed black South Africans country’s greatest affect my life [and] I have made
a source of hope and a shining revolutionaries courses through a conscious decision not to
example of good, ethical her own veins. focus on that.”
leadership.
“Now I do think that I am Lindiwe has kept one of her
“Disappointing my father was going in the right direction. I father’s favourite items of
my greatest fear,” says Lindiwe. am living; I am helping to make clothing, a woollen jersey he
myself proud of who I am wears in a lengthy TV interview
The fear and weight of carrying instead of hiding from it. Now with Afravision shortly before
the Hani name saw her slide it’s [being Hani’s daughter] a his death. She has donated his
into the dark world of drug and sense of pride [and] joy, it’s not favourite treadmill and bike to
alcohol addiction, a subject she something that gives me heart the museum in Dawn Park.
tackles with open honesty in palpitations anymore,” says The museum will no doubt
her memoir Being Chris Hani’s Lindiwe. ensure that even in death,
daughter. Hani’s voice remains influential
“Once I managed to separate and powerful just as it was in
Lindiwe has worked hard to kick Lindiwe from addiction it life.
her addiction is now working became clear who I was. I still
the marketing field and has have those moments of
come to terms with the fact that insecurity but I no longer have
a partnership that works 16.Hani’s ‘revolutionary restlessness’ needed to drive struggle values -
Sexwale
ANC stalwart and former Gauteng
Premier Tokyo Sexwale outside Chris
Hani's house soon after the former
liberation fighter was gunned down
in 1993.
Monuments come and go. And monuments,” said Sexwale, who But within three years Hani,
even when they are erected was among the first senior ANC aged 50, was killed by assassin
sometimes bad things that go leaders to arrive at the scene of Januz Waluzs. Images of a
against the values of the people Hani’s slaying on 10 April 1993. tearful Sexwale weeping over
in whose honour they are the bloodied body of his
erected happen right under Sexwale, who spent 13 years on comrade moved a nation and
their silent, towering gaze. Robben Island after he was evoked anger among the men
It is the values of the convicted for his role in the and women who served with
distinguished men and women underground activities of the and under Hani in the ranks of
in whose honour the statues and then banned ANC and the ANC and its military wing.
monuments are erected that live Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1977 –
on to touch, move and inspire knew of Hani’s role as a fearless Sexwale said the values that
generations long after they have and honest cadre even back defined Hani and that should be
passed on. then. guiding the ANC today were his
revolutionary honesty, analysing
ANC stalwart Tokyo Sexwale But it was only after his release problems and not rushing to
thanks and commends the City from prison in 1990 after the find quick solutions.
of Ekurhuleni for keeping Hani’s signing of the Groote Schuur
name alive. But the greatest Minute agreement between the He said presently the country
honour befitting the late ANC and the ruling National misses the ‘revolutionary
Umkhonto we Sizwe chief of Party – that he finally got to restlessness’ that drove Hani
staff would be if those in meet Hani. and ensured he never rested on
leadership live according to the his laurels or on his hands.
values that made him one of the He was deployed to pick him up Sexwale said Hani was militant
most respected leaders during from the airport on his return against wrong, hated corruption
the Struggle against apartheid. home from a quarter of a and never held back to speak
century in political exile. They out against wrongdoing
“I don’t think Chris would be served together in the structures whenever he felt something was
dying to be remembered with of the ANC and grew very close. wrong.
a partnership that works 17.Sexwale said Hani showed
courage and discipline even
after he was disciplined by the
ANC for challenging the
leadership on the direction the
struggle was taking in exile
after the ill-fated Wankie and
Sipolilo campaigns in 1967.
Instead of walking away from
the ANC – Hani instead
continued to serve with
discipline and emerged as one
its most courageous leaders in
the 70s and 80s.
Sexwale said while he was very Tokyo Sexwale and former Reserve
critical and outspoken against Bank Governor Gill Marcus at the
scene of Hani's murder in 1993.
wrongdoing, Hani was himself
‘a master of self-criticism.’
“What we are missing today is the values of honesty and that of exemplary courage and
that revolutionary being true to the values of the selflessness in which he never
honesty…that revolutionary Struggle. sought personal glory. He cited
voice, honest voice, pure the historic moment when at
honest voice. He was a He said his was the kind of the first ANC conference back
practitioner, a doer,” said attitude that was always in SA after 30 years in 1991 –
Sexwale. questioning what was wrong Hani withdrew his nomination
and even going further to try as vice president at the 11th
Sexwale who underwent find solutions – but not quick hour.
military training in the Soviet fix solutions. He said Hani was
Union in the mid-70s after restless politically, in a positive Three other strong candidates,
having lived in political exile in manner in that he was always Walter Sisulu, Harry Gwala and
Swaziland said Hani’s on his toes seeking to fix what Thabo Mbeki were also in the
dedication to the Struggle was was wrong. running. But Hani who enjoyed
shaped by Nelson Mandela’s popular support decided to
clarion call during the Rivonia “Don’t sit on your hands when withdraw from the race for the
trial in 1964 when he people don’t have health, sake of unity and peace in the
announced from the dock he don’t sit on your hands when movement.
was ready to die for his beliefs. there’s no sufficient
housing…don’t sit back Although some may have been
He said Hani was shaped firstly because we are in government. disappointed in the move and
by his roots in rural Sabalele in This is the type of a leader who saw it as an act of cowardice
Eastern Cape where he was
born in 1942 and grew up until
he went to study at Fort Hare
University from 1959 to 1961.
“It is the philosophy of the life
of the man, a disciplined
questions more. Do not sit on
your hands, do not sit on your
laurels,” he said.
He highlighted Hani’s life as
“
on his part – Sexwale argues
this was one of the greatest
displays of discipline from a
loyal cadre who saw matters
way beyond his own interests.
It is the philosophy of the life of the
leader,” Sexwale said about
what can be learnt from Hani’s man, a disciplined leader
legacy today.
Hani, said Sexwale, espoused
a partnership that works 18.Hani – fearless beacon of courage and ethical leadership
The movement had been
banned by apartheid SA and
forced into exile nine years
earlier. With Tambo as acting
president in the wake of the
death of Chief Albert Luthuli,
and the collapse of the Wankie
campaign in 1967 the ANC in
exile found itself in limbo.
And when young comrades like
Hani who had seen action in the
Wankie campaign regrouped
after serving terms of
imprisonment in Botswana and
Zimbabwe – they were shocked
to find the organisation was
inactive.
Academic Hugh Macmillan aptly
captures this troubled period in
the ANC’s history in his highly
acclaimed book The Lusaka
Years – The ANC in exile in
Zambia 1963-1994.
Macmillan writes that the 3 000-
word memorandum opened
with the statement: “The ANC in
exile is in a deep crisis [and], as
a result, rot has set in. From
informal discussions with the
Chris Hani shook the core of the Taking a leadership role in this revolutionary members of MK,
ANC in exile in 1969 when move to call the leadership to we have inferred that they have
together with other comrades order perhaps best captures lost all confidence in the ANC
they wrote and signed a Hani’s attributes as a leader. He leadership abroad. This they say
memorandum highly critical of was fearless and didn’t worry openly and, in fact, show.”
the leadership. about appearing unpopular
In the memorandum that has before the leadership. He did The explosive memorandum
become known as the Morogoro not fear speaking truth to went further to accuse the ANC
Memorandum, Hani and other power. national executive committee of
MK members who had fought in losing control of MK and
the ill-fated Wankie campaign in Although at the time he was allowing commander-in-chief
Southern Rhodesia [Zimbabwe], among the leading cadres in the Joe Modise to run it alone and
“accused the leadership of the ranks of uMkhonto we Sizwe at arbitrarily.
movement under Oliver Tambo the time, aged only 29 years
of careerism and of becoming a old, he didn’t shy away from Macmillan quotes Leonard Pitso,
middle class of globetrotting pointing out what he believed one of the signatories of the
salaried bureaucrats”. was ailing the ANC at the time. memorandum: “Orders were
a partnership that works 19.given for our arrest for alleged
treachery. Dungeons were dug
at Livingstone for our
reception. We would probably
have been thrown into these
dungeons but for the
intervention of a leading
comrade. The acting president
[Oliver Tambo] ordered the
dungeons to be closed, and
convened a meeting of
militants to consider our case.”
This act by Hani, challenging
the leadership at a time when
most of the rank and file
members of the movement
chose to cower for fear of
reprisals far away from home; is
an example of his fearless
stance for his beliefs.
perform,” Mandela told the mentioned is what would have
100 000 mourners who packed been his role or attitude
He could have chosen to
the FNB Stadium in Crown towards the state of affairs
remain silent and wait for the
Mines. today?
leadership to decide a new
course of action. But he didn’t.
Perhaps in these times when Would he be among the elite
He directed the wrath he had
the country and the ANC who have exchanged the
pointed at the enemy earlier at
alliance are facing a new slogans of the struggle for the
the leadership of the ANC
struggle against poverty, flowery language of the
which by then, were not used
underdevelopment, corruption boardroom?
to that kind of open criticism
and declining standards of Would he be an indifferent
especially from young cadres.
governance and accountability government leader caring only
Such was the courage by the
– it is to Hani’s legacy the about his welfare and forgotten
young cadre. The Morogoro
movement should be looking about the plight of the poor?
Memorandum episode also
to. What would be his role in
exposed his commitment to the
corruption plaguing the civil
Struggle and the ANC, his
Hani had the common touch service and government?
courage and vision because like
and never saw himself as better Perhaps the answer lies in
many he could have allowed
off or above the ordinary man. Hani’s own words spoken
himself to be demoralised by
He identified with the poor and before his murder in the early
the state of affairs.
their struggle. Mandela 90s.
identified this humility and ““The perks of a new
At his funeral in April 1993,
level headedness in Hani’s rural government are not really
ANC president Nelson Mandela
roots. appealing to me. Everybody
aptly captured Hani’s
“Chris Hani’s passion for would like to have a good job,
commitment to the Struggle
justice, for addressing the a good salary….but for me that
and personality.
problems that plague the rural is not the all of struggle. What
“We worked together in the
poor, were rooted in his is important is the continuation
National Executive Committee
childhood in Sabalele. His of the struggle…the real
of the ANC. We had vigorous
roots were so deep, so true, problems of the country, are
debates and an intense
that he never lost them.” not [going to be resolved]
exchange of ideas. You were
The question that always gets whether one is in Cabinet.”
completely unafraid. No task
asked when Hani’s name is
was too small for you to
a partnership that works 20.Being Chris Hani’s daughter
dream house, I began to feel the
first stirrings of excitement.
As Daddy parked the car in the
driveway, I found myself dashing
out, through the front rooms
and arches, into the back yard,
stopping at the edge of the
huge blue swimming pool, and
taking the wonder of it all in.
Not only did our new house
have a pool and the best kitchen
on the planet, it finally dawned
on me that for the first time in
my life I would have my very
own bedroom.
I also made my first friend in the
neighbourhood, a vivacious
blonde Afrikaans-speaking girl,
Sonya, who lived next door.
From the moment we laid eyes
on each other, we were
inseparable and spent most
days running in and out of each
other’s houses. At this time,
about to turn 10 years old, I was
still entirely oblivious to racism.
I had grown up in the
multicultural mixing pot of
Maseru and even during those
first few months in South Africa I
was unaware of any racial
undercurrents. The irony that my
first real friend in South Africa
was a white Afrikaner girl from
Boksburg totally escaped me.
With Daddy at home, we were
now a ‘real’ family. Initially,
In this extract from the book like thunder as I watched however, it was quite an
Being Chris Hani’s Daughter forlornly, from the back of adjustment because we had all
author Lindiwe Hani offers Mama’s car, my familiar kind of got used to having a dad
glimpses of the father figure childhood streets fade into the we only saw a couple of times a
behind the image of the distance behind us. year. As thrilled as I was to have
colossal political leader. him home, I now faced many
…after the four –hour journey, challenges accepting my dad as
We drove out of my beloved once we entered Dawn Park,
Maseru as a family in early the new head of the family. I had
drove down Hakea Crescent, lived many years with just having
December 1990. My heart felt and got closer to our face-brick
a partnership that works 21.Mama as the be-all-and-end-all,
so I found myself challenging
him on a number of issues.
One of the areas of contention
was my bedtime: I was used to
going to bed after watching TV
shows such as Dynasty or
Dallas, which I simply adored,
but he wanted to set my
bedtime at 8pm! I vehemently
resisted, shouting that “Mama
always lets me go to bed later”.
We finally struck a compromise
in which some days I went to Lindiwe Hani
bed earlier, while on others I
enjoyed some leniency. Very
soon the TV remote also
became a battleground. My he often swam at dawn as well. It seemed like I was forever
dad immediately laid claim to it We soon bought him a being summoned to make
but all he ever seemed to want stationary exercise bike and a coffee or bring drinks out for
to watch was the news or treadmill so even in bad Uncle So-and-so. My main
serious documentaries. He was weather the man wouldn’t be gripe with so many people in
a news man to the bone, and deprived of his endorphin and the house was that I was often
even slept with the radio on. adrenalin fix. not allowed to watch TV,
Numerous times I’d get out of because the noise from the
bed in the middle of the night When he jogged out on the television would drown out the
to go to the toilet and hear, suburban streets, I would be conversation.
“This is the BBC” coming from right behind him on my bike,
my parents’ bedroom. That keeping up with him as much The one show Daddy insisted
particular conflict was finally as my wheels would allow. The on not missing, besides the
resolved by getting another one thing Daddy was totally news, was Going Up with Joe
television set, which was placed hopeless at was handyman Mafela. I loved watching it with
in their bedroom. stuff. him, giggling as my dad roared
The man who could put an AK- with laughter. If he wasn’t there
Besides the few battles over 47 together in under two to watch it, we would have to
bedtime and the television minutes had no idea how to tape it on our big VHS video
remote, I adored having Daddy wire a plug or change a light machine.
permanently back in our lives. I bulb.
was especially drawn to his My father constantly attracted The other TV show Daddy
passion for exercise. I loved people to him. Our new home never missed was his favourite
nothing more than swimming always seemed full of visitors news show, Agenda – unless,
with him in our beautiful blue and activity. There was hardly a of course, he was being
pool. time that you didn’t walk in to interviewed for the show by
find comrades either in the Freek Robinson. I would sit
He taught me how to dive and lounge or outside around the glued to the screen, watching
how to master all the different pool, engrossed in robust every second, literally shaking
strokes –backstroke, breast discussions. Mama would with pride for my father,
stroke, butterfly, crawl. I mainly invariably be in her dream knowing that the whole country
joined him in the pool in the kitchen preparing food for the was watching him talk about
early summer evenings, though men. politics like an expert.
a partnership that works 22.Lindiwe Hani After the show I would wait up for him, as he made his way home from the SABC. The moment I heard the door open, I’d be sitting at the dinner table, knowing that he didn’t like eating by himself. While he was chewing on a meal that my mother had lovingly prepared for him – shepherd’s pie, roast chicken or lamb chops – I would take out my carefully prepared notes and go through what he had mispronounced in all my 11-year-old wisdom. “Daddy, it’s Vic-tree, not Vic-tawry.” He would sit there all serious, nodding at my crit, listening to every word and pretending to take it all on board. The one thing the whole Hani family had in common was a love for meat. So when Daddy was diagnosed with gout not long after we moved to Dawn Park, he really suffered on the strict no red- meat diet of fish and chicken that Mama now insisted on. But that didn’t mean a thing when it came to lamb chops, his favourite meal. - Being Chris Hani’s Daughter by Lindiwe Hani and Melinda Ferguson was published in 2016. Copyright - Melinda Ferguson Books, an imprint of NB Publishers. During Lockdown the book is available as an e-book on Amazon.com a partnership that works 23.
How Fort Hare shaped Hani’s ideals
“For young black South Africans course as a cross-disciplinary
like myself, it was Oxford and initiative that conducts research,
Cambridge, Harvard and Yale, develops postgraduate curricula
all rolled into one,” Mandela and shapes debates about
wrote glowingly of Fort Hare in leadership ethics in post-
his celebrated memoir Long apartheid South Africa and its
Walk to Freedom. wider theoretical and global
significance.
Hani recalled his time at the
institution as the place where he “CLEA sees itself contributing to
became openly involved in the the crafting of a new generation
Struggle. He said this because of enlightened leaders within a
Fort Hare was a liberal campus. space of lively and imaginative
intellectual engagement.”
“It was here that I got exposed
Chris Hani identified Fort Hare to Marxist ideas and the scope It is perhaps befitting that the
University where he was a and nature of the racist capitalist CLEA is housed in the aptly
student between 1959 and 1961 system. My conversion to named Chris Hani Building in
as a place where he was Marxism also deepened my non- East London.
exposed to ideals that racial perspective.”
deepened his non-racial Writing in a tribute to the
perspective. He said his early Catholicism led institution on its centenary in
to a fascination with Latin 2016, former student and now
This is one of the ideals that
studies and English literature renowned businessman
shaped his vigour as a fearless
which he took up at Fort Hare. Luthando Bara said: “The
fighter against racial oppression
institution’s alumni acts as a
and injustice.
“These studies in these two powerful magnet for present
courses were gobbled up by me and past pupils to merge, to
It was not surprising that Fort
and I became an ardent lover of share experiences and insights,
Hare University played such an
English, Latin and Greek and to contribute to solving the
influential role on the man from
literature, both modern and many challenges that exist in
Sabalele because it was no
classical. My studies of literature today’s turbulent world.”
ordinary institution.
further strengthened my hatred
of all forms of oppression, Although he eventually
Long before his time there, the
persecution and obscurantism. graduated from Rhodes
institution produced notable
The action of tyrants as University – Hani’s name will
alumni – among them seven
portrayed in various literary continue to rank among the
men who went on to become
works also made me hate most notable of those who were
state presidents in Africa,
tyranny and institutionalised honed in the institution’s lecture
emerging from the dark days of
oppression.” halls.
colonial occupation.
The roll of honour includes SA’s In line with its reputation for
first democratically elected producing great leaders
president Nelson Mandela, throughout its 104 year history,
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Fort Hare runs The Centre for
Tanzania, Yusuf Lule of Uganda, Leadership Ethics in Africa
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, (CLEA).
Ntsu Mokhehle of Lesotho and
Botswana’s Sir Seretse Khama. The university describes the
a partnership that works 24.Hani identified corruption as the new enemy
enemy and a new struggle that
enemy, he said, was socio-
economic. The fight would be
about the struggle for jobs,
houses and schools, so that we
could build a society that cares,”
says Prof Webster.
He says Hani called for a culture
of public service where nurses
are guided by ethic of care,
teachers by ethic of learning,
police by an ethic of community
safety and local government by
an ethic of public service.
Shortly before his tragic killing saw the formation of the Chris
Chris Hani made a powerful Hani Institute, an educational “The new enemy, he said, was
statement that continues to be and research hub aimed at corruption. And we in the SACP
the subject of animated debate rekindling the spirit of Hani. have been discussing how we
long after his death. should cut down on salaries of
The institute is underpinned on ministers and that of
“What I fear is that the liberators parliamentarians so that if you
emerge as elitists who drive promoting socialist values and
principles practised by Hani and are in parliament in Cape Town,
around in Mercedes Benz's and you actually rent a flat like
use the resources of this country others in their struggle and
pursuit to serve and emancipate everybody else,” adds Prof
to live in palaces and gather Webster.
riches,” Hani said in an interview the poor working class in
in 1993. Southern Africa. This year marks
27-years since the tragic killing Prof Webster says it was
of Hani. important that research and
The charismatic leader and think tanks institutions such as
former secretary general of the the Chris Hani Institute remain
South African Communist Party Professor Edward Webster who
served at the Chris Hani Institute active as a vehicle of public
enjoyed popularity among the engagement and discourse,
downtrodden for his fierce and from 2012 to 2015 says in a
context where so many of the saying the institute should
non-partisan approach to ensure that Hani’s legacy and
worker’s rights particularly political leaders have
succumbed to personal ideals lived on for many
advocating for socialist driven decades to come.
policies. enrichment, Hani stands out in
contemporary South Africa as a
beacon of selfless struggle for “While a director, my aim was to
Hani was ambushed, shot and make the institute a leading
mercilessly killed on the the working poor and the
marginalised. think tank for the broad left and
driveway of his Boksburg home a place where the memory of
on 10 April 1993 in what is Hani could be kept alive. We
widely believed to have been a “Eight days before comrade
Chris was assassinated, he was focused on three main activities:
well orchestrated assassination. public engagement, public
The motive for his brutal slaying interviewed by social historian
Luli Callinicos. In this interview debates, roundtables and
is still shrouded in mystery. workshops on key socio-
In 2003, a joint collaboration on the eve of the 1994
democratic elections, he said economic issues in South Africa
between COSATU and the such as the work and life of Chris
South African Communist Party that South Africa faced a new
a partnership that works 25.Nelson Mandela & Tokoyo Sexwale Hani. This includes the land question, township economy and the National Development Plan,” says Prof Webster. Other programmes at the institute include worker education and strategic and applied research projects and publications. Chris Hani was the second most popular political figure after former President Nelson Mandela. He was touted as the next president of South Africa after Mandela. Despite his political involvement, he was able to complete a BA Degree in English and Latin studies from Fort Hare University in 1961 and subsequently furthered his studies at Rhodes University. a partnership that works 26.
The Chris Hani Monument Produced by Inside Education and The Department of Communications Inside and Brand Management.
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