April 10 marks the 32nd anniversary since the assassination of freedom fighter Chris Hani, a former South African Communist Party (SACP) leader.

The anti-apartheid struggle stalwart’s life was cut short when he was shot multiple times while at his Dawn Park home on April 10, 1993.
Janusz Waluś and his co-accused Clive Derby-Lewis were arrested shortly after the incident and were sentenced to death. However, the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
Moved
While it has over the past 31 years been a tradition to hold the April 10 main commemoration event in Boksburg to remember the legacy of Hani, his family and the SACP has for the first time decided to break with tradition.

They moved this event to Hani’s hometown Cofimvaba in the Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape.
However, as a pre-commemoration of Hani, the parties involved held a wreath-laying ceremony at the cemetery, Thomas Titus Nkobi Memorial Park, on April 7.

Among the attendees of this event, which was led by the SACP leadership and the Hani family (represented by Chris Hani’s widow, Limpho), were Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, SACP general-secretary Solly Mapaila, Ekurhuleni Mayor Doctor Xhakaza, former Ekurhuleni mayors Mzwandile Masina, and Ntombi Mekgwe, former mayor of Boksburg Eric Xayiya, and several Ekurhuleni MMCs and the municipal management teams.

Inquest
During the wreath-laying ceremony in Boksburg, both the family and SACP reiterated their call for a thorough inquest into the assassination of Hani, to unmask the full truth behind his killing, which they said would, in turn, help the family and South Africans subsequently find closure.

Responding to a recent interview given by Hani’s killer Walus, Limpho lashed out at the country’s judicial system, saying the justice system made the killer the victim whereas she and her family are the victims.
In a recent sit-down interview with eNCA’s Annika Larsen, Waluś said if he had to do it over, he would still take Hani’s life again.

“Walus was given parole against us telling the court that Walus was not showing any signs of being remorseful. Some people say the judges have applied the law. I think they did not apply the law, but they had no interest in my side of the story.

“As a victim, I have a very strong view that in this country judicially when you are a victim, forget it. You won’t get justice.
“I can give you a typical example like the Timothy Omotoso rape case, He did all those funny things to our children, but he was given freedom.
“Now we are told the NPA got it wrong. How can’t they reopen the case? Justice is not fair to ordinary people. In this country, you need to have money to get justice.”

Closure
Limpho and the SACP said they will never find closure about the killing of Hani until an inquest is conducted to lay bare the truth behind the hit.

“We, my families, the SACP and many South Africans will find closure the day the government conducts the inquest. With the inquest, lots of information that was hidden by the apartheid government is going to come out.
“So, I appeal to the president to apply his mind. I’m old now. Before I die I need justice and that’s the only thing I need from them.

“For me, what Walus said in the interview did not come as a surprise, as I have initially said Walus was never remorseful. So when Walus said if he was given the opportunity again he would kill Chris. I just laughed because I knew he was going to say that. But guess who got a big egg on their faces? Your judicial and the Constitutional Court. They messed it up.”

Support
Limpho acknowledged the decades of support she received from the SACP and the labour federation Cosatu.

“The Tripartite Alliance has been extremely supportive. They supported me from the day my husband was assassinated, especially the SACP and Cosatu, and on behalf of my family and South Africans I appreciate that support.
“We went to court twice and the SACP was always on my side, I guess the ANC was too busy to go to court.”

The voice of the downtrodden
Talking about what she misses most about her late husband, Limpho said: “Chris was my lover, he was my friend, a father of my children, was very humble and was kind. He cared for the downtrodden. I miss that when I look around. I’m not saying he was different or he was an exception. We have a lot of comrades who think exactly as he did and I’m proud of those living comrades who are pushing that agenda of the downtrodden.”

‘We want the truth’
Mapaila said Walus left left the country without telling the truth and not showing remorse, but was given a hero’s welcome in his country.

“We have learned a lesson from that whole process. In some instances, Limpho was in that difficult period attacked and told that she must move on.
“For us to come to a complete closure, the government has to institute an appropriate inquest, and that’s why we have written to the president officially as the SACP and the Hani family requesting that they must initiate an inquest to find the truth about the circumstances leading to the death of comrade Hani.”

Clive Derby-Lewis died after being granted medical parole. Waluś was deported to his home country Poland after serving his jail term. However, throughout the parole processes, the SACP and the Hani family have repeatedly maintained and even argued extensively in court that Waluś remains unremorseful.
Mapaila pointed out that his party is pushing for inquests for all other revolutionists and political activists who were murdered by the apartheid regime while fighting for democracy.

‘Count on us’
Lesufi pledged support to the Hani family.

“Our support is guaranteed unconditionally. The provincial leadership will make sure that we give you all the support that you need. We will join you to the Eastern Cape to recement the relationship that you have given us.
“The opening of the inquest is inevitable, it must happen, and must happen in our lifetime. We must not postpone it or allow somebody to drag it so that we can forget about it. We will not forget about it, and we will provide the support that is needed.”

Mayor Xhakaza stated that the City of Ekurhuleni will be sending its delegation to represent the city at the event in the Eastern Cape.
“We will ensure that the commemoration is well organised and befit the name that is commemorated, Chris Hani.”

In his closing remarks, the SACP’s Mhlekwa Nxumalo asked the city to improve the upkeep of the cemetery and not only cut the grass when they are coming to hold such event.
“I hope that this is the last time we find the cemetery in this condition. Otherwise, we will come all the time to do the maintenance ourselves if you can’t do it as the municipality,” said Nxumalo.

Gallery:

Also Read: Chris Hani museum not yet accessible to the public