SA owes Hani debt of gratitude - Zuma

The tombstone of the slain SACP leader Chris Hani at Thomas Nkobi Memorial park in Ekurhuleni. File photo: Boxer Ngwenya

The tombstone of the slain SACP leader Chris Hani at Thomas Nkobi Memorial park in Ekurhuleni. File photo: Boxer Ngwenya

Published Apr 10, 2013

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Johannesburg - South Africa owes assassinated SA Communist Party leader Chris Hani a debt of gratitude for what he did during the struggle, President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

This debt could be repaid by showing commitment to society, Zuma said at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Thomas Titus Nkobi Memorial Park in Elspark, east of Johannesburg, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hani's assassination.

“We must hasten to usher in the type of society comrade Chris lived and died for,” Zuma said.

“We must honour the memory of comrade Chris by developing a better life for all, that he believed in.”

Zuma said it was impossible to see complete change in just 20 years. The damage done by apartheid would be with the country for some time, he said.

“To suggest we cannot blame apartheid for what is happening in our country now, I think is a mistake to say the least.

“We don't need to indicate what it is apartheid did. The fact that the country is two in one, you go to any city there is a beautiful part and squatters on the other side, this is not the making of democracy and we can't stop blaming those who caused it,” said Zuma.

Hani was shot dead outside his house in Boksburg on April 10, 1993. - Sapa

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