Seminars to honour Hani

2003-04-02 16:15

Johannesburg - The South African Communist Party (SACP) will hold memorial seminars dedicated to its slain former leader Chris Hani throughout the country as part of a month-long programme to mark Hani's death 10 years ago.

The party also plans to hold a rally commemorating Hani and to open an educational trail in his hometown in the former Transkei.

The late Martin Thembisile Hani, popularly known as Chris was assassinated on April 10, 1993, at his home in Dawn Park on the East Rand. At the time of his death he was the SACP's general secretary.

The two rightwingers responsible for his murder are currently serving life sentences.

The SACP seminars would reflect on the life, struggles and sacrifices of Hani, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande said in the party's on-line newspaper.

The theme of the seminar is "Chris Hani - an embodiment of the relationship between the national democratic revolution and socialism".

"The aim of the seminar will be to take forward internal alliance debates around the concrete linkages between the national democratic revolution and socialism under current conditions, as our conception of a transition to socialism in South Africa."

He said the seminar would also critically reflect on the content of the national, class and gender contradictions in the current period.

"This will form part of our ongoing contribution to deepen debates and engagement in our alliance, and to have no-holds barred debate on some of the critical questions facing the South African revolution.

"This is what Chris stood for and this is what we must continue to do to celebrate the life and times of this hero of our revolution," he said.

The main seminar will be held in Johannesburg on April 24. The dates of seminars in other provinces would be announced at a later stage, the party said.

A rally would be held on April 13 in Umtata, at the University of Transkei's stadium, Nzimande said.

He said the SACP's Chris Hani Poverty Eradication Trail would be opened at Hani's home village in Sabalele near Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape on Friday.

"Through the Chris Hani Poverty Eradication Trail we will be focusing on taking forward the campaign of registration for social grants as part of the theme of "United Action to Push back the Frontiers of Poverty" through the mobilisation of volunteers - the Red October Brigades".

"Our message is simple - we must never allow Chris Hani to die. He fought for national liberation, people's power and socialism," Nzimande said.

- SAPA