The Chris Hani murder was a dramatic and sensitive matter which angered the working class and poor of South Africa. This passing of a hero had implications and consequences that no one in South African academics and media find worthy of vigorous debate. A leader of the masses and a champion of the struggle was eliminated for the benefit of the few. Only some know the truth and process behind the death of this revolutionary figure.

Background

Chris Hani is the late former MK chief-of-staff, African National

Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee and Secretary

General of the South African Communist Party (SACP). At the

time of his death he had earned respect for the integral role he

played in the building of the ANC underground military wing

Mkontho-we-Sizwe and was popular due to his commitment to

the socialist duty of uplifting poverty and delivering a wholly

equal South Africa. His naturally pro-masses stance made him

the most influential and trusted politician by millions of poor

people and in turn was elected as the Secretary General of the

SACP to strengthen the communist presence in South African

politics. However, in the early 1990's the integrity of

communism was collapsing around the world and significant

events emphasized this; the fall of the Berlin wall, the collapse

of the Soviet Union and Cuba's economic crisis confirmed the

neo-liberal direction the world was rapidly taking. These

circumstances along with others forced the ANC to ignore their

socialist/communist stance contained in the 1955 Freedom

Charter. The organization adopted a pro-business approach

which meant that the increasing presence of communism,

commanded by Hani, had no place in the political arena. The

moderate approach adopted by the leading party resulted to;

CODESA and negotiations, a transition to democracy, and the

formation of the Truth and Reconciliation commission (TRC).

These and many political activities since 1990 have had

positive implication for a selected amount of the population,

while the majority still yearns to embrace the benefits of the

new South Africa.