ANCYL inspired by Hani's 'fighting spirit'
2011-04-10 19:36
Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) is inspired by the fighting spirit of former SA Communist Party leader Chris Hani, the league said on Sunday.
Spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said in a statement: "Inspired by the fighting and fearless spirit of Chris Hani, we will fight tirelessly for economic freedom in our lifetime, which means the total attainment of all freedom charter objectives.
"Chris Thembisile Hani was and will forever remain the most outstanding revolutionary, leader of the ANC, genuine Communist Party leader and commander of Umkhonto WeSizwe."
He said Hani would have been a "fearless leader" who did not fear imperialists, because he understood that the interests of imperialism did not coincide with those of the National Liberation Movement in South Africa.
Sunday marked the 18th anniversary of Hani's death.
Hani, who was also the chief of staff of ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, was shot dead on April 10 1993 - a year before the first democratic elections.
He was shot in the head as he climbed out of his car outside his home in Dawn Park, Boksburg, by Polish immigrant Janusz Walus, using a pistol lent to him by Derby-Lewis, a Conservative Party MP at the time.
Wreaths were laid at Hani's grave in Boksburg on Sunday to commemorate the 18th anniversary.
Liberation
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi said: "Once more we have come back here, as we will always do, to say we won't let you die...our dear general secretary, leading member of our glorious movement the ANC and our chief of staff.
"He must live on in our hearts and minds and in the way we live our lives and engage in the struggle for a better life for all, following in his footsteps.
"His life continues to inspire new generations of revolutionaries, a glittering example of a courageous revolutionary leader of his people, personifying the noblest principles and finest traditions of our liberation and socialist movement," Vavi said at the Thomas Nkobi cemetery.
He said Hani would be shocked that people were prepared to die "not in pursuit of the struggle for justice for all, but because they must be elected as councillors and mayors".
Vavi demanded that President Jacob Zuma investigate all allegations, and if any of them were found to be true, the person must not be redeployed but fired.
He said Hani would be "impressed" by the strides that the ANC had made in the "transformation of the lives" of many South Africans.
"We have one of the world's most democratic Constitutions, a Bill of Rights, and a Constitutional Court which checks that the laws and courts comply with that Constitution."
Meanwhile, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has declared April the "Chris Hani Month.
- SAPA
