CHRIS HANI WILL NEVER DIE

9 April 2000

Over the last weekend, tens of thousands of members and supporters of the South African Communist Party (SACP), celebrated the life and ideas of the late General Secretary of the SACP through 15 commemorative events held throughout the country.

The main event was held today at Lulekani Stadium, Phalaborwa, Northern Province today. The SACP General Secretary,
Blade Nzimande and the premier of the Northern Province, Ngoako Ramathlodi, addressed this event. The event was also attended by Chief Maswanganyi from Giyani, senior national leaders of POPCRU (POPCRU General Secretary and Vice
President) and ANC provincial leaders.

In his keynote speech, Blade Nzimande said “We must never allow Chris Hani to die. His ideas and his spirit live in us. He
fought poverty and job losses. He fought for people’s power and socialism. As we fight job losses and poverty and prepare for local government elections, let us build and strengthen the power and influence of the poor and the working class.
Workers and the poor need a strong SACP and the SACP needs revolutionary workers to fight for socialism. Therefore
workers and the poor must join and build the SACP. In this way we will make Chris Hani’s dream of strong SACP
and a socialist South Africa possible. In this way Chris will live in us through our current struggles and the struggle for socialism in our country”

The event was also a powerful celebration of progressive people’s culture with performances by many local cultural groups
in honour of a people’s hero.

COMING EVENTS

During this next week, the SACP will continue with celebrating the life of Chris Hani through the following events.

• 10 April (19h00) – Debate on poverty eradication – Great Centenary Hall, Port Elizabeth.
  Speaker – Jeremy Cronin (SACP Deputy General Secretary)
• 10 April (13h00) Mini rally – Main Hall, University of Cape Town.
  Speaker – Garth Strachan (SACP CC member).
• 10 April (15h00), Rally, in Khutsong Gymnasium Hall, Gauteng.
• 10 April (11h00) – Memorial Lecture – UNISA Main Hall, Durban.
  Speaker – Jeff Radebe (SACP CC member).
• 12 April (10h00) - COSATU rally and march against job losses – Library Gardens, Johannesburg.
  Speaker – Blade Nzimande (SACP General Secretary).
• 15 April (10h00) – Rally – Thembi Mall, Thembisa.
  Speaker – Gwede Mantashe (SACP CC member).
• 15 April (13h30) – Rally – Workers Library, Newtown, Johannesburg.
  Speaker – Blade Nzimande (SACP General Secretary).

SUMMARY OF EVENTS HELD THIS WEEKEND

As detailed below, other Chris Hani commemoration events held this weekend went ahead successfully in most provinces of the country.

• EASTERN CAPE – Rally in East London
  addressed by Vuyo Mosana (SACP Provincial Chairperson).
• FREE STATE - Rallies in Botshabelo, Springfontein, Bethlehem and Odendaalsrus
  addressed by  Kay Moonsamy, Lindelwa Dunjwa, Gwede Mantashe (SACP Central Committee members)
• GAUTENG - Rallies in Pretoria, Johannesburg City Hall, Thembisa
  addressed by Charles Nqakula, Sam Shilowa and Dipuo Mvelase (SACP CC members)
• KWAZULU NATAL - Rally in Pinetown
  addressed by Gwede Mantashe (SACP CC member).
• MPUMALANGA - Rally in Groblersdal
  addressed by Thabadiawa Mufamadi (SACP National Treasurer).
• NORTH WEST PROVINCE - Memorial Lectures at the University of the North West, Mafikeng and in Klerksdorp City Council Auditorium
  addressed by Howard Yawa (SACP Provincial Secretary)
• WESTERN CAPE - Rallies in Khayelitsha, Paarl, Wallacedene Stadium
  addressed by Jeremy Cronin, Langa Zitha and Rob Davies (SACP CC members)

Contact:
MAZIBUKO K. JARA
SACP Department of Information & Publicity
E-Mail: sacp1@wn.apc.org 
Tel: 011 339-3621/2
Fax: 011 339-4244
Cell – 083 651 0271