SABC, Friday 10 April 2015 21:22
Friday marks the 22nd anniversary of the assassination of Chris Hani. (SABC)
South African Communist Party (SACP) Central Committee member Buti Manamela says communists should honour the late struggle hero, Chris Hani by ensuring that the credibility of SACP is not dented by embracing ill-disciplined individuals.
Manamela was speaking at the 22nd anniversary for the commemoration of the assassination of SACP leader Chris Hani at Libode in the Eastern Cape.
"We should remember Chris Hani not merely as someone whom we can wear T-shirt but as someone whom we can emulate, as someone whom we can learn a lot from what he did when he was still alive, from the word he said when he was still alive, from the actions that he undertook while he was still alive; obviously the CEC does not see comrade Chris Hani as a statue as Cecil John Rhodes."
April 10 marks the 22nd anniversary of the assassination of Hani, at his home in Boksburg by Polish immigrant, Janusz Walus.
Earlier on, President Jacob Zuma saluted the memory of Hani. He was speaking at the unveiling of a monument and a wall of remembrance in honour of Hani at the Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.
President Zuma said the former slain SACP leader is an example of a great leader who fought for the freedom of this country. Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Sdumo Dlamini also paid tribute to Hani at the event.
Hani was born in the rural town of Cofimvaba in 1942. He is the fifth of the six children. He used to travel 25 kilometres to school every day, but that didn`t deter him from following his dreams as he enrolled for a Bachelor`s degree at Fort Hare and graduated in 1961.
His political involvement dates back to 1956 when he joined the ANC and its youth wing a year later. Hani is remembered as a selfless leader who sacrificed his life for the betterment of others. SACP`s Provincial leader Xolile Nqatha says the SACP will be having a series of lectures across the province on values that Hani stood for.
The Chris Hani District Municipality will host a Freedom Marathon on the 25th for the third consecutive year in honour of Hani. About two thousand athletes will take part in 25 kilometre, 10 kilometre run and fun walk. A local athlete who will be running the marathon Sabelo Joyiya says he is delighted to be part of this historic event.
At Hani`s rural homestead in Cofimvaba a multipurpose center for young and old was built in his honour. The center consists of a
library, and an early childhood center among other things. People on the ground feel that Hani`s legacy should be commemorated by developing areas of the less privileged.