Chris Hani

Quality 0.50 · 3 views · Updated 2 months ago

South African revolutionary and anti-apartheid activist (1942–1993)

title: "Chris Hani" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1942-births", "1993-deaths", "20th-century-atheists", "african-politicians-assassinated-in-the-1990s", "african-national-congress-politicians", "south-african-anti-apartheid-activists", "politicians-assassinated-in-1993", "assassinated-south-african-activists", "assassinated-south-african-politicians", "deaths-by-firearm-in-south-africa", "former-roman-catholics", "people-from-intsika-yethu-local-municipality", "people-murdered-in-south-africa", "people-of-the-rhodesian-bush-war", "rhodes-university-alumni", "south-african-atheists", "south-african-communist-party-politicians", "south-african-communists", "south-african-expatriates-in-the-soviet-union", "south-african-marxists", "south-african-revolutionaries", "umkhonto-we-sizwe-personnel", "university-of-fort-hare-alumni", "xhosa-people"] description: "South African revolutionary and anti-apartheid activist (1942–1993)" topic_path: "science/biology" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hani" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary South African revolutionary and anti-apartheid activist (1942–1993) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]

FieldValue
nameChris Hani
honorific_suffix
imageChris Hani.jpg
order11th
officeSouth African Communist Party#General SecretariesGeneral Secretary of the South African Communist Party
term_start1991
term_end1993
predecessorJoe Slovo
successorCharles Nqakula
office1Chief of Staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe
term_start11987
term_end11992
president1
predecessor1
successor1Siphiwe Nyanda
birthnameMartin Thembisile Hani
birth_date
birth_placeSabalele Village, Cofimvaba, South Africa
death_date
death_placeBoksburg, South Africa
death_causeAssassination
partySouth African Communist Party
otherpartyAfrican National Congress (Tripartite Alliance)
spouse
childrenLindiwe Hani
occupation
awards
nicknameChris
allegiance
branch
serviceyears1962–1992
rank
battlesRhodesian Bush War
mawards
::

::callout[type=note]

::

| name = Chris Hani | honorific_suffix = | image = Chris Hani.jpg | caption = | order = 11th | office = South African Communist Party#General SecretariesGeneral Secretary of the South African Communist Party | term_start = 1991 | term_end = 1993 | predecessor = Joe Slovo | successor = Charles Nqakula | office1 = Chief of Staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe | term_start1 = 1987 | term_end1 = 1992 | president1 = | predecessor1 = | successor1 = Siphiwe Nyanda | birthname = Martin Thembisile Hani | birth_date = | birth_place = Sabalele Village, Cofimvaba, South Africa | death_date = | death_place = Boksburg, South Africa | death_cause = Assassination | party = South African Communist Party | otherparty = African National Congress (Tripartite Alliance) | spouse = | children = Lindiwe Hani Neo Hani Nomakwhezi Hani | occupation = | awards = | nickname = Chris | allegiance = | branch = | serviceyears = 1962–1992 | rank = | battles = Rhodesian Bush War | mawards =

Chris Hani (28 June 194210 April 1993; born Martin Thembisile Hani ) was a South African military commander, politician and revolutionary who served as the leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and chief of staff of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the former armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). He was a fierce opponent of the apartheid government, and was assassinated by Janusz Waluś, a Polish immigrant and sympathiser of the Conservative opposition on 10 April 1993, during the unrest preceding the transition to democracy.

Early life

Martin Thembisile Hani was born on 28 June 1942 in the Xhosa village in Cofimvaba, Transkei. His father Gilbert Hani was a mine union worker and political activist who left the country to go into exile in 1962 and returned to South Africa in 1991. His mother Mary Hani was a simple person who had never attended school. He was the fifth of six children. He attended Lovedale school in 1957, to finish his last two years. He twice finished two school grades in a single year. When Hani was 12 years old, after hearing his father's explanations about apartheid and the African National Congress (ANC), he wished to join the ANC but was still too young to be accepted. In Lovedale school, Hani joined the ANC Youth League when he was 15 years old, even though political activities were not allowed at black schools under apartheid. He influenced other students to join the ANC. In an interview in 1993 with Luli Callinicos, Hani revealed that he was first involved with the Unity movement. He was influenced to align with the ANC due to the activism of the party concerning mass struggles. He mentioned writers such as Govan Mbeki who played a critical role in his political conversion.

In 1959, at the University of Fort Hare in Alice, Eastern Cape, Hani studied English, Latin and modern and classical literature. He did not participate in any sport, saying: "I would rather fight apartheid than play sport." Hani, in an interview on the Wankie campaign, mentioned that he was a Rhodes University graduate.

Political and military career

At the age of 15, he joined the ANC Youth League. As a student, he was active in protests against the Bantu Education Act. He worked as a clerk for a law firm. In 1961, Hani joined a communist party led by Comrade Mbeki where he first started learning and reading about Marxism. Following his graduation, Hani joined Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the ANC. He credited his commitment to the MK as a result of his exposure to the extreme side of apartheid during his upbringing. Hani said, "I didn't get involved with the workers' struggle out of theory alone. It was a combination of theory and my own class background." Following his arrest under the Suppression of Communism Act, he went into exile in Lesotho in 1963. Because of Hani's involvement with Umkhonto we Sizwe, he was forced into hiding by the South African government and changed his first name to Chris.

He received military training in the Soviet Union and served in campaigns in the Zimbabwean War of Liberation, also called the Rhodesian Bush War. They were joint operations between Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army in the late 1960s. The Luthuli Detachment operation consolidated Hani's reputation as a soldier in the black army that took the field against apartheid and its allies. His role as a fighter from the earliest days of MK's exile (following the arrest of Nelson Mandela and the other internal MK leaders at Rivonia) was an important part in the fierce loyalty that Hani later enjoyed in some quarters as MK's Deputy Commander (Joe Modise was overall commander). In 1969, Hani co-signed, with six others, the "Hani Memorandum", which was strongly critical of the leadership of Joe Modise, Moses Kotane and other comrades in the leadership. This memorandum was also a cry to radicalize the anti-apartheid movement in the ANC. Hani saw the overreliance on diplomatic negotiations as inefficient and was critical of the separation between the leaders of the ANC and the fighters of the MK. Hani stressed the fact in the memorandum by saying, "the ANC is the vanguard of the revolutionary struggle in South Africa and it is strange that its leaders have not been obliged to take the M.K. oath". Hani and the signatories of the memorandum aimed to unite both parties while also holding leaders of the ANC accountable for complacency.

In Lesotho, Hani organised guerrilla operations of the MK in South Africa. By 1982, he had become prominent enough to have become the target of assassination attempts, and he eventually moved to the ANC's headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia. As head of Umkhonto we Sizwe, he was responsible for the suppression of a mutiny by dissident anti-Communist ANC members in detention camps, but denied any role in abuses including torture and murder.

Having spent time as a clandestine organiser in South Africa in the mid-1970s, he permanently returned to South Africa following the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, and took over from Joe Slovo as head of the South African Communist Party (SACP) on 8 December 1991. He supported the suspension of the ANC's armed struggle in favour of negotiations, as well as including a multi-party political system. Hani also pushed for radical economic reform in South Africa. He put great effort in advocating for a socialist economy. Social redistribution as well as protecting labor rights were central in Hani's push to improve the South African economy post apartheid. In an interview in 1993, Hani explained how creating a socio economic restructure would be a massive job for South Africans.

Assassination

Main article: Assassination of Chris Hani

Chris Hani was assassinated on 10 April 1993 outside his home in Dawn Park, a racially mixed suburb of Boksburg. He was accosted by a Polish far-right anti-communist immigrant named Janusz Waluś, who shot him as he stepped out of his car. Waluś fled the scene but was soon arrested after Margareta Harmse, a white Afrikaner housewife, saw Waluś straight after the crime as she was driving past, and called the police. A neighbour of Hani also witnessed the crime and later identified both Waluś, and the vehicle he was driving at the time. Clive Derby-Lewis, a senior South African Conservative Party MP and Shadow Minister for Economic Affairs at the time, who had lent Waluś his pistol, was also arrested for complicity in Hani's murder. The Conservative Party of South Africa had broken away from the ruling National Party out of opposition to the reforms of P. W. Botha. After the elections of 1989, it was the second-strongest party in the House of Assembly, after the National Party, and opposed F. W. de Klerk's dismantling of apartheid.

Historically, the assassination is seen as a turning point. Serious tensions followed the assassination, with fears that the country would erupt in violence. Nelson Mandela addressed the nation appealing for calm, in a speech regarded as presidential even though he was not yet president of the country:

While riots followed the assassination, both sides of the negotiation process were galvanised into action, and they soon agreed that the democratic elections should take place on 27 April 1994, just over a year after Hani's assassination.

Assassins' conviction and amnesty hearing

In October 1993, both Janusz Waluś and Clive Derby-Lewis were convicted for the murder and sentenced to death. Derby-Lewis's wife, Gaye, was acquitted. Both men's sentences were commuted to life imprisonment when the death penalty was abolished as a result of a Constitutional Court ruling in 1995.

Hani's killers appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, claiming political motivation for their crimes and applying for amnesty on the basis that they had acted on the orders of the Conservative Party. The Hani family was represented by the anti-apartheid lawyer George Bizos. Their applications were denied when the TRC ruled that they had not acted under orders. Following several failed attempts, Derby-Lewis was granted medical parole in May 2015 after he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer; he died 18 months later, on 3 November 2016.

On 10 March 2016, the North Gauteng High Court ordered Waluś to be released on parole under bail conditions. The Department of Justice and Correctional Services lodged an appeal against the parole decision to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. The Department of Home Affairs has indicated that Waluś may have his South African citizenship revoked. On 18 August 2017, the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein overturned Waluś's parole, a decision that was welcomed by the SACP. By October 2019, Waluś was still in prison, despite his lawyer's claim that he is completely rehabilitated. On 16 March 2020, Waluś was again denied parole by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola. On 7 December 2022, Waluś was granted parole under strict conditions by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola. In 2024, the government announced that Waluś was to be deported to Poland on 6 December with the Polish government paying for the proceedings. Finnaly Walus arrived in Poland on 7 December.

Absence of conspiracy

Hani's assassination has attracted numerous conspiracy theories about outside involvement. The final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission said it "was unable to find evidence that the two murderers convicted of the killing of Chris Hani took orders from international groups, security forces or from higher up in the right-wing echelons".

Influence

Hani was a charismatic leader, with significant support among the radical anti-apartheid youth. At the time of his death, he was the most popular ANC leader after his senior, Nelson Mandela.Hani also played a critical role in deepening the alliance between the SCAP, ANC and Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). These relationships played a big role in the success of the anti apartheid resistance movement. Chris Hani became a global figure for anti apartheid and resistance movements around the world.

In Poland the far right for years has supported Waluś and praised his racist murder. In April 2025, the Never Again Association published a report on this phenomenon.

Honours

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Chris_Hani_Monument_4.jpg"] ::

In 1993, French philosopher Jacques Derrida dedicated Spectres de Marx (1993) to Hani.

  • (posthumously)
  • (posthumously)
  • (posthumously)
  • (posthumously)
  • (posthumously)
  • (posthumously)
  • (posthumously)
  • (posthumously)

In 1997, Baragwanath Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the world, was renamed the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in his memory. In September 2004, Hani was voted 20th in the controversial Top 100 Greatest South Africans poll.

Days after his assassination, the rock group Dave Matthews Band (whose lead singer and guitarist, Dave Matthews, is from South Africa) began playing what would become "#36", with lyrics and chorus referring to Hani's shooting.

A short opera, Hani, by composer Bongani Ndodana-Breen with libretto by film producer Mfundi Vundla, was commissioned by Cape Town Opera and the University of Cape Town, premiering at the Baxter Theatre on 21 November 2010.

A District Municipality in the Eastern Cape was named the Chris Hani District Municipality. This district includes Queenstown, Cofimvaba and Lady Frere. The Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in Mpumalanga also bears his name.

In 2009, after extension of Cape Town's Central Line, the new terminus serving eastern areas of Khayelitsha was christened Chris Hani.

Recognitions

References

References

  1. Chris Hani. (1991). "My Life, An autobiography written in 1991". SA Communist Party.
  2. "The Death of Chris Hani: An African Misadventure - The O'Malley Archives".
  3. Van Wyk, Chris. (2003). "Chris Hani". Awareness publishing.
  4. "Chris Hani interviewed by Luli Callinicos (Johannesburg), 23 and 31 March 1993 {{!}} South African History Online".
  5. "Martin Thembisile (Chris) Hani". About.com.
  6. (3 June 2013). "Leaders - Chris Hani". Afravision.
  7. "Chris Hani interviewed by Luli Callinicos (Johannesburg), 23 and 31 March 1993 {{!}} South African History Online".
  8. [http://www.transformation.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/transformation/article/view/1015/830 The ‘Hani Memorandum’ – introduced and annotated by Hugh Macmillan] {{webarchive. link. (25 January 2013 , ''Transformation'', 2009.)
  9. "The Original Chris Hani Memorandum {{!}} South African History Online".
  10. (7 October 2008). "Underground fight for SA". The Sowetan.
  11. "Chris Hani is elected SACP Secretary {{!}} South African History Online".
  12. Hani, Chris. (February 1991). "My Life". [[South African Communist Party]].
  13. (2014-04-10). "Chris Hani's black Marxism".
  14. Atkins, Stephen E.. (2004). "Encyclopedia of Modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups". Greenwood Publishing Group.
  15. "Hani Truth hearing resumes". BBC News.
  16. Sparks, Allister. (1994). "Tomorrow is Another Country". Struik.
  17. Keller, Bill. (October 15, 2020). "2 South Africa Whites Guilty in Murder of Black". New York Times.
  18. Grootes, Stephen. (2014-10-08). "Chris Hani and the Arms Deal bombshell: A death that still hangs over us".
  19. "Waluś denies Hani killing was his idea". Dispatch.
  20. (April 7, 1999). "Hani killers denied amnesty". BBC News.
  21. "My husband is finally free - Gaye Derby-Lewis". News24.
  22. (10 March 2016). "Chris Hani's killer Janusz Walus granted parole". The M&G Online.
  23. "Janusz Walus fights to retain his SA citizenship".
  24. (18 August 2017). "Court overturns decision to grant Chris Hani's killer parole".
  25. Tlhabye, Goitsemang. (7 October 2019). "Advocate says Janusz Walus rehabilitated, simply being subjected to political bias". IOL.
  26. Venter, Zelda. (16 March 2020). "Janusz Walus denied parole over Chris Hani assassination".
  27. Maromo, Jonisayi. (13 February 1983). "Janusz Walus discharged from hospital, officially on parole".
  28. (6 December 2024). "Far-right extremist who murdered South African hero to be deported".
  29. (7 December 2024). "Janusz Waluś, killer of anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani, deported to Poland from South Africa".
  30. "Conclusions about the Chris Hani Assassination". Africanhistoryabout.com.
  31. Mzamane, Nthoana and Mbulelo. (July 1993). "Obituary: Hamba Kahle Chris Hani: 1942-1993". Southern Africa Report.
  32. "South African Communist Party (SACP) {{!}} South African History Online".
  33. Kiewit, Lester. (8 September 2020). "Right-wing Poland and the glorification of Hani's killer". Mail & Guardian.
  34. (6 December 2024). "Far-right murderer of anti-apartheid leader deported back to Poland".
  35. (April 2025). "'We needed to eliminate someone'. A Hero's Welcome For An Apartheid Killer. Report". 'NEVER AGAIN' Association.
  36. (10 April 2025). "A Hero's Welcome for an Apartheid Killer".
  37. Jacques Derrida (1994), ''Spectres de Marx: l'état de la dette, le travail du deil et la nouvelle Internationale'', Paris: Galilée, ({{ISBN. 978-2-7186-0429-9).
  38. [http://www.chrishanibaragwanathhospital.co.za/history The history of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital] {{webarchive. link. (3 August 2012 , chrishanibaragwanathhospital.co.za (accessed 3 November 2016))
  39. (2013-10-13). "Top 100 Greatest South Africans".
  40. "Song Listing for ''"#36"''". DMBAlmanac.com².
  41. Martell, Nevin. (2004). "Dave Matthews Band: Music for the People". Simon and Schuster.
  42. [http://www.tonight.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=358&fArticleId=5625935 Tonight - 'Bonsai opera' revitalises genre], tonight.co.za
  43. Karen Rutter. "The struggle continues". Times LIVE.
  44. "About Us – Chris Hani District Municipality".
  45. Kalipa, Siyabonga. (11 June 2009). "New trains for Khayelitsha residents". West Cape News.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1942-births1993-deaths20th-century-atheistsafrican-politicians-assassinated-in-the-1990safrican-national-congress-politicianssouth-african-anti-apartheid-activistspoliticians-assassinated-in-1993assassinated-south-african-activistsassassinated-south-african-politiciansdeaths-by-firearm-in-south-africaformer-roman-catholicspeople-from-intsika-yethu-local-municipalitypeople-murdered-in-south-africapeople-of-the-rhodesian-bush-warrhodes-university-alumnisouth-african-atheistssouth-african-communist-party-politicianssouth-african-communistssouth-african-expatriates-in-the-soviet-unionsouth-african-marxistssouth-african-revolutionariesumkhonto-we-sizwe-personneluniversity-of-fort-hare-alumnixhosa-people