Johannesburg – The City of Ekurhuleni has strongly condemned vandalism at the Chris Hani Memorial Site at the Thomas Nkobi Cemetery in Boksburg.
The City said vandalism to the “Four Pillars of the ANC Struggle” portion of the facility and the information centre and kiosk was discovered by municipal officials when they reported for duty on Monday morning.
The metro’s spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini, said the lighting system of the facility had been removed and one of the pillars was badly damaged. There was also a break-in at the information centre situated along the Walk of Remembrance linking the Wall of Remembrance to the Chris Hani Memorial.
The facility was officially opened by former president Jacob Zuma in 2015.
The City said what makes the situation even more puzzling is the timing of the incident, considering the recent judgment by the Constitutional Court on the case.
“Such incidents are extremely regrettable. The City is doing its best to preserve its rich heritage, but some people seem to be hellbent on ensuring this does not happen,” said Dlamini.
“Our people should take pride in such facilities instead of destroying them,” he said.
The ANC in Gauteng said the desecration of the Chris Hani Monument is especially devastating as it occurs at a very difficult moment in the country’s history, where Hani’s assassin, Janusz Waluś is set to be released from prison following the unanimous decision by the Constitutional Court to grant him parole.
ANC Gauteng provincial secretary Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza said Waluś remains a divisive figure and symbol of white supremacists across the world.
“This is evidenced in the support he enjoys in his home country of Poland, where the right-wing movement views him as a hero,” Nciza said.
The ANC in Gauteng said the vandalism of the Chris Hani Memorial is not isolated from this global reality.
“The vandalism of the memorial is a testament to their contempt of the life of a man who fought for equality – something that racists abhor,” Nciza said.
The ANC in Gauteng called on the City of Ekurhuleni, as the local authority accorded powers to manage and protect the said national estate “to involve law enforcement in the pursuit of those responsible for this atrocious act of vandalism”.
“The vandalism of the Chris Hani Memorial is not simply a case of destruction of infrastructure, but the destruction of protected national heritage that serves as both a site of memory and a resource for the preservation of an important component of our country’s liberation history,” Nciza said.
A few years ago, Hani’s grave was shot at in an incident that caused a major public outcry.
“The City wants to make it clear that no amount of sabotage theft or vandalism can erase the contribution stalwarts like Chris Hani, on whom the Freedom of the City of Ekurhuleni was bestowed, played in the liberation struggle of this country,” Dlamini said.
Hani, who was the leader of the SACP and chief of staff of uMkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, was assassinated on April 10, 1993 outside his house in Dawn Park, Boksburg.
The City conferred the Freedom of the City to Hani posthumously in November, 2006 and declared April, the month he died, Chris Hani Month. Hani’s grave is a national heritage site.
“The City is currently assessing the facility to determine the extent of the damage. The matter has also been reported to the EMPD for further investigation,” Dlamini said.
The Star