Today marks 24 years since the death of Chris Hani who was assassinated on 10 April 1993.
He was an outspoken and powerful leader in the liberation struggle to free black South Africans from the grips of apartheid. He was the leader of the South African Communist Party as well as chief of staff of the military wing – Umkhonto we Sizwe. President Jacob Zuma commemorated the day by laying wreaths at his grave in Boksburg.
The death of Chris Hani remained in the news for many years as Clive Derby- Lewis, the mastermind behind the association, as well as Janusz Walus the man who pulled the trigger made several attempts to be released from prison. Derby-Lewis spent 22 years in prison and died in June last year, only receiving parole at the age of 80. Waluz remains in prison after losing his bid to be released on parole last year.
Top Quotes by Chris Hani
- “What I fear is that the liberators emerge as elitists . . . who drive around in Mercedes Benzes and use the resources of this country . . . to live in palaces and to gather riches.”
- “What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of South Africans who love their country and love everybody, irrespective of their colour”.
- “The perks of a new government are not really appealing to me. Everybody would like to have a good job, a good salary . . . but for me that is not the all of struggle. What is important is the continuation of the struggle . . . the real problems of the country are not whether one is in Cabinet . . . but what we do for social upliftment of the working masses of our country.”
- “If you want peace then you must struggle for social justice.”
- “The police see me as the brains and key strategist. I have given up trying to prove that I am campaigning for peace. These guys see me as someone who is bad news. I fear that there are people who have the capacity to eliminate me. I am frightened about what they are planning”
