Martin Thembisile Hani, who later adopted the name Chris, emerged from the rural Xhosa village of Cofimvaba to become a central figure in the armed struggle against apartheid. His political trajectory spanned from clandestine guerrilla organizing in Lesotho to leading the South African Communist Party during the critical transition toward a multi-party democratic state.
Early Political Development
Born on 28 June 1942, Hani displayed an early interest in the African National Congress despite restrictions against political activities in black schools. During his time at the Lovedale school in 1957, he influenced peers to join the movement. He continued his academic and political pursuits at the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University, where he studied English, Latin, and literature while engaging with Marxist texts under the influence of Govan Mbeki.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Military Leadership and Exile
Following his involvement with Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, Hani fled to Lesotho in 1963 to evade arrest under the Suppression of Communism Act. He underwent military training in the Soviet Union and participated in the Rhodesian Bush War. In 1969, he co-authored the Hani Memorandum, a document challenging the leadership of Joe Modise and Moses Kotane, demanding greater accountability and a more radical approach to the liberation struggle.
Transition and Economic Advocacy
After the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, Hani returned to South Africa, assuming leadership of the South African Communist Party from Joe Slovo in 1991. He navigated the transition by supporting the suspension of armed conflict in favor of diplomatic negotiations. His domestic agenda prioritized socialist economic reform, emphasizing wealth redistribution and the protection of labor rights to address the imbalances of the post-apartheid landscape.
Assassination in Boksburg
On 10 April 1993, Hani was shot outside his residence in Dawn Park, Boksburg. His assailant, Janusz Waluś, a Polish immigrant associated with the Conservative Party, acted with the complicity of MP Clive Derby-Lewis. The murder occurred during a period of extreme civil tension, prompting a national broadcast by Nelson Mandela, who appealed for public restraint to prevent widespread violence during the delicate democratic transition.
Fast facts
- Born: 28 June 1942, Cofimvaba
- Died: 10 April 1993, Boksburg
- Citizenship: South Africa
- Education: University of Fort Hare, Rhodes University, Lovedale
- Leadership: South African Communist Party
- Armed Wing: Umkhonto we Sizwe
- Primary Movement: Internal resistance to apartheid
- Known as: Chris Hani
Questions readers ask
What was the Hani Memorandum?
A 1969 document signed by Hani and six others that criticized the ANC leadership for complacency and an overreliance on diplomacy over active, armed resistance.
Who was responsible for the death of Chris Hani?
Janusz Waluś, a Polish immigrant, committed the murder, with Clive Derby-Lewis providing the weapon and complicity.
