GKymGvJWQAA16 B
Picture courtesy: (Fikile Mbalula shared on X) SACP General Secretary in MK uniform, standing next to ANC Secretary General on the right arm during the 31-year commemoration of Christ Hani’s death.
Nomfundo Ngobese
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, the Tripartite Alliance assembled at the Thomas Titus Nkobi Memorial Park to honor the life of fallen hero Chris Hani.
The Tripartite Alliance is an alliance between the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).
The 10th of April 2024 marked 31 years since Hani was assassinated at his home in Dawn Park, Boksburg, while stepping out of his car.
Among those who attended the wreath-laying and commemoration ceremony was the ANC General Secretary, Fikile Mbalula. When speaking at the podium, Mbalula said that Hani was someone who was known for the truth, and not everyone qualifies to call themselves or be called a revolutionary, but Hani was indeed a revolutionary to the end.
“Chris Hani was the Chief of Staff of Umkhonto Wesizwe; he led the armed wing of the ANC formed in conjunction with the South African Communist Party, and this fact must be amplified against the lies currently being told about the formation of MK,” said Mbalula. He added that the Hani would have been proud of the continued unity amongst the tripartite alliance.
Furthermore, Mbalula said that the cause of Hani’s assassination was to derail negotiations and that the MK was formed by the ANC and SACP as an armed wing of the ANC. “When we go to court to defend, we are defending our legacy. Legacy that was not created by us. Chris Hani was killed because of that legacy,” Mbalula said.
Hani went into exile while working for the ANC and SACP, and he played different roles. “Our revolution is facing a monumental challenge as we celebrate and recognize the living legacy of our great General Secretary, Commander of Umkhonto Wesizwe, the glorious people’s liberation army, Chief of Staff Kommissar, Chris Hani, who was tragically assassinated by the bullets of apartheid,” said the SACP General Secretary, Solly Mapaila.
He further said that Hani’s assassination was planned to stop South Africa from transitioning from apartheid to democracy. “These assassins were opposed to seeing our society advance towards socialism; in their own words, they said they targeted Chris Hani because he was a communist,” he said.
Hani was a family man, and his assassins robbed someone of a husband, a father, an uncle, and so forth.
Mapaila said the SACP has been with the Hani family in the fight for his justice till this day, and they will always be there for and with the family.
Hani’s wife feels that the ANC has failed her husband and the people of South Africa. Limpho Hani spoke at her late husband’s 31st commemoration. She said, regardless of what the ANC has done and gained since her husband died, there’s still a lot to be done.
“The cost of living is high. Transport costs and fuel costs are very high. Why is our government not cushioning the poor from all these costs of living? There is no political will from this government, and we, black people, remain prisoners of hope in our country,” she said.
SABC News reported that earlier, in a fitting tribute, the SACP said it aims to defend the gains for freedom its late general fought and died for.
About the Author
